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It has been two years now since Winter the dolphin has executed a real “dolphin kick”. She needs to be taught how to swim like a dolphin again and also needs help to strengthen her muscles that she needs to swim like a “real dolphin”. (Since losing her tail fluke in a crab trap entanglement incident she has taught herself cope with a swimming style that is a combination of swimming like a shark/alligator/fish all at the same time).
Now she has her prosthetic tail and I’m fascinated every time I get to document one of these sessions in underwater photographs. We spent a long time getting Winter used to having me near her in the water during these sessions and distractions are kept to a minimum. As much as I’d like to use underwater “strobes” to help light the underwater photographs - I really felt those would be distracting to Winter so I just photograph with natural light that is always changing....., but that makes it interesting and never a dull moment for sure!!
The BBC just did a piece on Winter on 19 Oct 07. I don’t think I can embed the video here but if you go to their front page and type “Winter” in the search box at the top a most wonderful video piece on her can be selected to play. I encourage you to see it. Of all the pieces on Winter this BBC video is one of the best short news pieces I’ve seen.
Well it looks like it may have embedded here see if it plays - if not just go to this BBC link below and type Winter (or better yet Winter the dolphin) in the search box at the top of the page to the right. Then you will see the video listed in the right hand column. Best, Carol
Above Abby - head dolphin caretaker and Jami are helping Winter remember the motions she used to use to swim but hasn’t since she lost her tail fluke in a crab trap entanglement two years ago.