CLEARWATER, Fla. — PJ, the eldest bottlenose dolphin at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, has died, aquarium officials announced Sunday. She was estimated to be about 51 years old. 

PJ's caretakers said she was "in the loving arms of her animal care and vet teams" as she took her last breaths. 

"We are deeply saddened to share the passing of PJ, our eldest bottlenose dolphin," officials said in a statement. "We did all we could to ensure she was as comfortable as possible during her last moments with us."

Aquarium officials also said that PJ lived a long and whole life and that they were grateful to be able to provide her every comfort during her sunset years. 

Members at CMA reflected on the memories they made with PJ and said it was clear that her easygoing personality would be a perfect match for the aquarium's other two dolphins, Winter and Hope, the instant she arrived at CMA following her rescue. 

PJ later acted as a motherly figure towards the aquarium's newest rescue, Apollo. Winter, the star of the 2011 film Dolphin Tale, died back on November 11, 2021 due to an intestinal abnormality.

"PJ is now able to join Winter and serve as her bodyguard for eternity – as she would have it no other way," officials said.