Breanna and I have a meet and greet with a friendly staff member at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
All pictures were taken at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium last October, 2013 by Walkingfox.
If you have been here for a bit, you may remember the story about Winter, the rescued Dolphin whose tail was severely damaged and was eventually rehabilitated and fitted with a new one.
Winter has been the star of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium where she has lived since her rescue and story were put on film and all the world fell in love with her.
Now this amazing place of rescue and rehabilitation, is putting its money where its heart is and there will no longer be any Dolphin Shows there.
As CEO David Yates so eloquently put it:
” We don’t rescue them so we can show them to guests. Our goal is to release them back into the wild.”
After Walkingfox was released from the Tampa VA Hospital last October, we decided to go and spend some time, the next day, looking around and admiring the nearby Clearwater Aquarium facility.
It truly was a wonderful place to see, even though most of it was closed for filming that day.
We already knew that a sequel was being filmed while we were there, so public viewing was understandably just a bit curtailed, but we were just happy to be able to be at the very place where it all happened.
Winter has a new friend named Hope, who was also rescued and the film is about their new life together, we were told.
The planned extravagant and quite expensive new facility, has been ditched and the focus will now and in the future, be entirely on rehabilitation and eventual release of rescued sea wildlife.
What more could anyone ask of this awesome group of loving and devoted people who gave the world such a joyous film called “Dolphin Tale ” detailing the amazing life and history of Winter’s journey.
Now next week, the long-awaited sequel Dolphin Tale 2 will finally be released on September 12, reuniting once more the original cast.
If you are a sucker for inspiring and sweet stories, please rent the first and then go see the second.
Just be sure to bring a big box of Kleenex.
This place is now doing it right.
Places to learn more:
Popular “Dolphin Tale” Aquarium To Drop Animal Performances
‘Dolphin Tale’ aquarium to drop animal shows
Clearwater Marine Aquarium plans to drop animal shows
Dolphin Tale’s Aquarium Says NO To ‘Show Must Go On’
Walking with the Alligators 
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
I’ve been here!? Seen Winter & will watch the new movie with Hope!! Thx for sharing!
Dear Dr. Rex, thank you so very much for sharing their story~
Welcome!! I love that story ….. Hugs to all three!! ❤ ….
Three hugs right back to you two!!!!
🙂
Wonderful to read a ‘Good News’ story about our marine wildlife 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for caring Peggy.
I read so many everyday that are horrible.
I have to look really hard for the good ones!!
Reblogged this on Sunshinebright and commented:
Doing it right – rescue, rehabilitate and release. No more shows. Thank you to “Walking with the Alligators” https://walkingwiththealligators.wordpress.com/2014/09/07/doing-it-right/ to make us aware that people are putting their ideals to work for animals at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
So very grateful for your love of animals.
Thank you for sharing their story.
Pingback: Doing It Right | Sunshinebright
Reblogged this on idealisticrebel.
Thank you so very much for sharing this story.
Hope you get to see the new movie Dolphin Tale 2~