Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Watch as our team welcomed Star and Squirt into their new home in the Ruth & J.O. Stone Dolphin Complex at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The two female bottlenose dolphins were transported from Miami and arrived at CMA on Thursday. They will spend a period of time acclimating in our medical pool before joining our other resident dolphins and exploring more of the 1.5 million gallon habitat. Both dolphins were born in human care and lack the skills necessary to survive in the wild. CMA’s mission of rescue, rehabilitation, release, and research remains steadfast.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium welcomed the two dolphins and several other animals from the Miami Seaquarium to their new home at CMA on December 18.
The two female bottlenose dolphins are Star, 26, born 1999; and Squirt, 15, born in 2010. They will join our other bottlenose and rough-toothed dolphin residents in the Ruth & J.O. Stone Dolphin Complex after a period of acclimation.
The two dolphins were born at the Miami Seaquarium under human care and lack the necessary skills to survive in the wild. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) approved a permit to transport them to CMA from the Seaquarium, which closed to the public this past October.
This is a part of CMA’s plan to continue to enhance our dolphin social structure for the benefit of our rescued residents.
In 2023, CMA commissioned a third-party review led by scientific and medical experts, seeking to create a suitable social structure for dolphin groups, incorporating experienced role models for each dolphin to enhance their health and well-being. The plan also aimed to devise a long-term population management strategy that balances dolphins born in managed care at other facilities with those that are stranded.
In addition to the two dolphins, CMA welcomed a nurse shark, four birds (cockatoos, amazon, macaw), five yellow-footed tortoises and one red-footed tortoise from Miami Seaquarium. We look forward to introducing these new animals with new habitats and learning opportunities for guests.
Donate and support CMA at HelpCMA.org!
© 2025 Clearwater Marine Aquarium
We believe in preserving our environment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life; environmental education; research; and conservation. We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
facebook.com/ClearwaterMarineAquarium
instagram.com/cmaquarium
twitter.com/CMAquarium
tiktok.com/@cmaquarium
cmaquarium.org
Watch as our team welcomed Star and Squirt into their new home in the Ruth & J.O. Stone Dolphin Complex at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The two female bottlenose dolphins were transported from Miami and arrived at CMA on Thursday. They will spend a period of time acclimating in our medical pool before joining our other resident dolphins and exploring more of the 1.5 million gallon habitat. Both dolphins were born in human care and lack the skills necessary to survive in the wild. CMA’s mission of rescue, rehabilitation, release, and research remains steadfast.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium welcomed the two dolphins and several other animals from the Miami Seaquarium to their new home at CMA on December 18.
The two female bottlenose dolphins are Star, 26, born 1999; and Squirt, 15, born in 2010. They will join our other bottlenose and rough-toothed dolphin residents in the Ruth & J.O. Stone Dolphin Complex after a period of acclimation.
The two dolphins were born at the Miami Seaquarium under human care and lack the necessary skills to survive in the wild. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) approved a permit to transport them to CMA from the Seaquarium, which closed to the public this past October.
This is a part of CMA’s plan to continue to enhance our dolphin social structure for the benefit of our rescued residents.
In 2023, CMA commissioned a third-party review led by scientific and medical experts, seeking to create a suitable social structure for dolphin groups, incorporating experienced role models for each dolphin to enhance their health and well-being. The plan also aimed to devise a long-term population management strategy that balances dolphins born in managed care at other facilities with those that are stranded.
In addition to the two dolphins, CMA welcomed a nurse shark, four birds (cockatoos, amazon, macaw), five yellow-footed tortoises and one red-footed tortoise from Miami Seaquarium. We look forward to introducing these new animals with new habitats and learning opportunities for guests.
Donate and support CMA at HelpCMA.org!
© 2025 Clearwater Marine Aquarium
We believe in preserving our environment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life; environmental education; research; and conservation. We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
facebook.com/ClearwaterMarineAquarium
instagram.com/cmaquarium
twitter.com/CMAquarium
tiktok.com/@cmaquarium
cmaquarium.org
