Beloved ‘Dolphin Tale’ star Winter dies at Florida aquarium
Clearwater, Nov 12: A prosthetic-tailed dolphin named Winter that starred in the Dolphin Tale movies died Thursday evening at a Florida aquarium despite life-saving efforts to treat a gastrointestinal abnormality, aquarium officials said.
The 16-year-old female bottlenose dolphin died while being held by animal care experts who were preparing Winter for a procedure at The Clearwater Aquarium where the famous marine mammal has long resided.
A statement released by the aquarium said the aquarium would remained closed on Friday to provide staff time to grieve.
James “Buddy” Powell, president of the aquarium, told reporters Thursday that staff were doing everything possible to restore the dolphin to health.
Winter was two months old when her tail became entangled in a crab trap near Cape Canaveral, which forced its amputation. “Dolphin Tale,” which was released in 2011, chronicled Winter’s recovery and the unprecedented, lengthy effort to fit her with a prosthetic tail.
Winter’s story of has become an inspiration for disabled people around the world and the aquarium has received thousands of messages of support since Winter’s illness became known. (AP)
Artist wants safe passage in Hong Kong to remove sculpture
Copenhagen, Nov 12: A Danish artist who is seeking to retrieve his sculpture in Hong Kong commemorating the victims of China’s 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown said Friday he wants safe passage guaranteed for himself and his employees when they dismantle and remove the artwork called “Pillar of Shame,” which is at the centre of a controversy.
In an open letter, Jens Galschioet said that his presence in Hong Kong is “necessary” because the 8-meter-tall (26.25 feet), the two-ton sculpture is “very difficult to move … without causing significant and irreparable damage.”
The copper sculpture depicting dozens of torn and twisted bodies has been on display at the University of Hong Kong and has been in the city for 24 years.
In 1989, China’s leaders sent in the military to end pro-democracy protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, killing hundreds, and possibly thousands, of people.
The ruling Communist Party has squashed any public discussion or memorializing of the events in mainland China.
Galschioet said he wants to bring the sculpture back to Denmark and wants “a guarantee that my employees and I will not be prosecuted in relation to the disassemblement and moving of the monument.” (AP)