Nicholas the Dolphin

On December 24, 2002, a male Atlantic bottlenose dolphin calf and his mother stranded near Gibsonton, Florida and were transported to the Florida Aquarium and then relocated to Clearwater Marine Aquarium for long-term medical care. In honor of their Christmas Eve arrival, we named the female dolphin Noelle and her calf, Nicholas. The 380-pound adult female, Noelle, had sustained third-degree burns around her dorsal fin and was believed to have a respiratory illness. Unfortunately, she passed away on December 27, 2002. Nicholas survived and received medical treatment for his burns. He eventually fully recovered but because he did not have his mother to teach him how to survive in the wild, he became a permanent resident at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where he lives today.