Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Encyclopedia
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a non-profit organization in Clearwater, Florida
dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured marine animals, public education, animal-assisted therapy and research.
CMA opened in 1972 at its current location on Clearwater Beach
, a former water treatment plant (the large tanks being well-suited for CMA's rehabilitation operations).
Numerous forms of marine life reside at CMA, some temporarily until they can be released, while others have serious injuries which do not permit their return to the wild, and thus become permanent residents.
CMA's best-known permanent resident, and the focus of its marketing campaigns, is Winter
, a bottlenose dolphin
who was rescued in December 2005 after having her tail caught in a crab trap. Her injuries caused the loss of her tail; CMA attempted (successfully) to fit Winter with a prosthetic tail which brought worldwide attention to the facility. Winter later starred in the 2011 movie Dolphin Tale, shot partially on location at CMA.
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured marine animals, public education, animal-assisted therapy and research.
CMA opened in 1972 at its current location on Clearwater Beach
Clearwater Beach
Clearwater Beach is a resort area located on the Gulf of Mexico in Pinellas County on the west central coast of Florida in the United States. It is a part of the city of Clearwater. The geographic latitude is 27.57 N and longitude 82.48 W...
, a former water treatment plant (the large tanks being well-suited for CMA's rehabilitation operations).
Numerous forms of marine life reside at CMA, some temporarily until they can be released, while others have serious injuries which do not permit their return to the wild, and thus become permanent residents.
CMA's best-known permanent resident, and the focus of its marketing campaigns, is Winter
Winter (dolphin)
Winter is a bottlenose dolphin at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida, widely known for having a prosthetic tail. She is the subject of the film Dolphin Tale, a dramatization of her story. Winter was found off the coast of Florida in December 2005, caught in a crab trap, which...
, a bottlenose dolphin
Bottlenose Dolphin
Bottlenose dolphins, the genus Tursiops, are the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. Recent molecular studies show the genus contains two species, the common bottlenose dolphin and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin , instead of one...
who was rescued in December 2005 after having her tail caught in a crab trap. Her injuries caused the loss of her tail; CMA attempted (successfully) to fit Winter with a prosthetic tail which brought worldwide attention to the facility. Winter later starred in the 2011 movie Dolphin Tale, shot partially on location at CMA.