Whilst taking a short break from chatting on Discord one day in November 2021, I took to do some random Googling, and discovered the shocking news: Winter had died from an intestinal abnormality. For the uninformed, Winter was a female bottlenose dolphin rescued in 2005 on the beaches of Clearwater, Florida (at just two months of age) by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a rescue organization dedicated to rescuing, caring for, rehabilitating, and safely releasing injured and/or sick marine wildlife, in the Floridan town of the same name. Due to her injuries, she lost her tail, and was not expected to survive, yet somehow kept on going. Later, she was given a prosthetic one, with multiple variations that improved over time – and the first of its kind applied to a dolphin. She shot to fame from an MSNBC news article in 2007 and a movie titled Dolphin Tale in 2011.
It was from watching that movie that my love and admiration of dolphins grew. I liked a lot of other animals, but dolphins became the primary focus, almost to the point of obsession. It might seem odd to have such a strong connection to a wild marine animal from a movie, but that’s exactly my focus: Winter had an amazing influence on millions of people of all ages and genders across the world – especially to those who also had physical disabilities like her. Naturally, we relate to others who are undergoing similar or equal struggles on a personal level; a strong sense of love and comfort through a personal connection. We get a sense of relatability and love, sympathy, leading to feeling empowered and having comfort that “Hey, I’m not alone, there are others who understand and love and respect me because they are in the same struggle too.” As such, this connection leads to a moment of therapy for the disabled person.
Animals are unique in this regard, because they don’t have the ability to exhibit negative or hypocritical behavior unexpectedly or without a logical cause which directly relates to their natural instincts. They don’t judge, they are instinctual, and they display wonder and fascination in an endearing way, making them ideal candidates for providing therapy and connections to disabled people – especially children.
Here are two excerpts from a news article I read on that day:
Joey Gillespie has known he wanted to be a marine biologist since he was 3, but that still didn’t make it easy for him to visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium as a kid.
As someone with high-functioning Asperger’s syndrome, he can struggle in situations with lots of people or noise — the perfect descriptors for the tourist-filled viewing area in front of Winter the dolphin’s tank. But when he saw Winter in 2015, the then-10-year-old locked eyes with her, and said they kept constant eye contact for 20 minutes.
“Winter gave me the confidence to do things I don’t usually do, and just enjoy life,” said Gillespie, who lives in Valrico and is now 17. He said Winter made him feel understood and hopeful for the first time.
He became more outgoing, giving class presentations and even going up to strangers to tell them about the horrors of shark-finning and other oceanic topics. Doctors had warned his mother not to expect him to pass ninth grade. He’s now preparing to go to college. He’s been working to earn his scuba certification, so he could dive with Winter.
Then the family saw the news that she had died.
“He’s proven everybody wrong,” Gillespie’s mother, Ariel Raymond, said Friday through tears. “I owe that to Winter.”
Aidan Schmitz of St. Petersburg has been regularly visiting Winter since she was young. She was born with only one bone in her left lower leg, causing it to be amputated when she was a toddler.
As a kid, her amputation made her feel constantly alone. Then she met Winter.
“If Winter can get a prosthetic tail and swim around just like the other dolphins,” Schmitz thought, “I can stand and walk around like any other kid can.”
When one reflects, the only logical route leads to that there must be something greater that gives these animals such qualities and creates such connections, and also causes them to die in ways we cannot precisely predetermine. In the Qur’an, Allah states:
“Among His signs is the creation of Heaven and Earth, as well as any animals He has propagated in either of them. He is capable of gathering them whenever He wishes.” (Chapter 42, Verse 29)
“And whatsoever He has created for you on the earth of varying colors [and qualities from vegetation and fruits (botanical life) and from animals (zoological life)]. Verily! In this is a sign for people who remember.” (Chapter 16, Verse 13)
“And the stupor of death will come in truth: ‘This is what you have been avoiding!’” (Chapter 50, Verse 19)
“…And that it is He who causes death and gives life.” (Chapter 53, Verse 44)
Cover image © Clearwater Marine Aquarium