Winter moves to new aquarium

CLEARWATER - It was a big day at Clearwater Marine Aquarium as the Bay area's most famous bottlenose dolphin moved to a new pool that’s nearly twice the size of her old one.

Dozens of divers converged on Winter's pool for a move that head dolphin trainer, Abby Stone, says was nearly five years in the making.

"It's been a long time coming. A lot of work has gone into this and really it comes from everyone’s support,” she said. “You know when you give to the aquarium, we give right back to the animals."

They've dubbed it "Winter and Panama's Extreme Home Makeover" because both of the aquarium's female dolphins will call the new pool home. David Yates, the aquarium’s Chief Executive Officer, says they went to great lengths to make sure this is exactly what they need.

"It's 170,000 gallons of water circulated 24 hours a day. The water's heated in the winter, chilled in the summer,” he said. “It's more than twice the size of her current tank."

Winter was more than willing to go, sliding from her platform onto the blue tarp stretcher to be transported out the door and up to her new digs in the open air and sunshine. After the big splash, she looked around a bit, and then made a beeline for one of the trainers already in the new pool to welcome her.

Not only is the new pool much bigger, it also provides a new vantage point for guests. Underwater windows provide a view of Winter's world the way she sees it.

Stone says it's a much better view of how Winter swims and how it's going with her new artificial tail.

"Now when our guests come they can actually see her working on her prosthetic tail,” she said. “All the amazing things we're doing with her from a different perspective underwater.”

It's a whole new perspective for Winter and for us, as the aquarium writes a new chapter in the ongoing story of the little dolphin that could.

Visit SeeWinter.com to check in on Winter 24/7.