Winter the dolphin possibly fighting ‘gastrointestinal infection,’ Clearwater aquarium says

Winter the dolphin may be fighting a gastrointestinal infection, according to preliminary blood work, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium said Sunday in a media release.

Staff members noticed on Nov. 1 that Winter, the aquarium’s movie-star dolphin, had not been eating and was behaving abnormally, the release said. The aquarium’s care team is working around the clock in Winter’s recovery, according to aquarium spokesperson Kelsy Long.

The Clearwater aquarium has cared for Winter since she was rescued on December 10, 2005, in Mosquito Lagoon near Cape Canaveral on Florida’s east coast. At just 2 months old, Winter’s tail became entangled in a crab trap. She ultimately lost her tail, but became famous for using a prosthetic tail.

Winter starred in Dolphin Tale, a 2011 movie based on her story of recovery. A second movie, Dolphin Tale 2, was released three years later and also featured Hope, another rescued dolphin from the Clearwater aquarium.

The 16-year-old Winter is continuing to show a fighting spirit, Sunday’s news release said. She has been placed in the aquarium’s center pool, which does not have public underwater viewing, but allows easy observation for the aquarium’s staff. Visitors may see her from above the water in the third floor Dolphin Terrace, the release said.

No other animals or marine life at the aquarium have shown signs of illness, the release said.

This is a developing story. Stay with tampabay.com for updates.