A history of dolphins and whales in UK dolphinariums
The UK housed a large collection of dolphinariums from the early 1960s to 1991 when the last one (located at Windsor Safari Park) closed its gates. The reasons that these closed are varied but the main problem was that a scientific report ordered by the government and writtem by Klinowski et al. recommended mnimum sizes for main pools that was endorsed and put into place by the government. As a result ALL dolphinariums in the UK fell foul of these minimum guidleines. All dolphinariums were given 10 years to bring the pools up to the minimum guidelines but all failed to do so.
By 1991 there were only three facilities still in operation. The largest and arguably best of these was Windsor whose owner went into administration. Ironically the Safari Park and dolphinarium were the only part of the organisation that was making a profit at the time (see the page under W for full details).
The reasons are again varied: lack of money was the main one. It would have cost Windsor over £500,000 to invest in new pool facilities, which ws a vast amount of money at that time. The second major reason was the animal rights movement who at that time were very vocal (and in some cases rightly justified) in regards to the keeping of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) in captivity, specifically in regards to the sizes of certain pools and premature deaths in captivity.
One of the disappointing aspects of dolphinaria at this time was the lack of foresight involved in the planning and execution. It seemed to be a case of "theres a pool with water lets bung in a dolphin or two". This wasn't the case and there were many people who only had the welfare of the animals at heart but the problem remained that most pools were very small and although the animals appeared happy and healthy a shift in the perceptions of the public rapidly made them outdated.
Another aspect that was incredibly cynical and to me personally plain wrong were the large numbers of touring and seasonal dolphinaria that sprang up from time to time in various seaside towns. The water also becomes muddy when ownership of these dolphinaria is looked into. Quite often the dolphins were owned by a company that had static dolphinaria and sent animals to other places (either in plastic/steel pools built at the location or in swimming pools converted for their use) that were run by a third party. On other occassions the animals and pools were owned and operated by the same people.
As you will note a number of dolphinariums were established in zoos and safari parks but were run as a separate entity by the owners of the dolphins. This is where I think the zoo community dropped the ball. In my view they should have owned the animals and operated the dolphinariums themselves. They would then have been able to move with the times (as they have done many times before and since) and dolphinariums would still be in existence in the UK today.
Lets move on to a couple of statements that everyone knows to be true:
1. It is now illegal to keep dolphins or whales in captivity in the UK. This statement is FALSE. The report actually states that the keeping of cetaceans in captivity is actully a GOOD idea. The reasons given are that as a flagship species they allow people to learn about marine conservation and shows bring people an idea of the intelligence of cetaceans. The report also says that dolphin shows are good for the species involved for the same reasons. The only reasons that there are no dolphinariums currently in the UK are simply the cost of building a worl class exhibit that meets (and beats) the minimum guidelines and the backlash anticipated from the animal rights movements.
2. Cetaceans die in captivity at an unusually early age. Again this is FALSE. This may have been true in the very early 60's and early 70s but is no longer the case. In fact recent studies have shown that there are now fewer premature deaths in captivity than you would expect in the wild. In addition most animals now reach the equivalent age (or older) at death as their wild counterparts.
In short there is no scientific or legal grounds as to why there are no dolphinariums currently in the UK. Without further ado below you will find as complete a listing as possible of dolphinariums that existed in the UK until 1993. Where possible I have included images (thanks to John Dineley of www.marineanimalwelfare.com for allowing me to use hs images) of the dolphinariums and if I can images of the same facilites now.
Alpahbetical List Of UK Dolphinariums
Animal Training School and Dolphinarium, South Elmsal (1972-1974)
Animal Training School and Dolphinarium, South Elmsall, near Wakefield. Owned by Mr John Nolan and his wife under the compamy name of Jervale Ltd. Thje training school was a former swimming baths that opened in 1932 and had been converted. Although not actually open to the public they were occassionally admitted.
Initially used to house 8 dolphins that were caught and transported from the USA in 1973. In 1974 when the facility closed the animals were relocated to Ocean Park, Seaburn and then 4 of them were sent on to Flamingo Park in 1975 (both of these dolphinariums were run by Jervale).
The extent of the facility as a whole is unknown but some documents suggest that more than 34 dolphins were shipped to the school, however other documents state that nowhere near that number were actually sent to the school.When the school closed there were only 6 animals.
Associated Pleasure Parks (Touring)(off and on from 1966 to roughly 1970)
Based at Flamingo Park. In about 1966 three dolphins were exhibited in old tram sheds (Queens Hall) in Leeds. Later on they moved to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
The Leeds pool was a circular plastic tank of roughly 3.66m in diameter (about 12') and 1.52m deep (about 5'). Records differ but either one or two dolphins were exhibited, trained by a Mr S. Gallagher and assisted by Mr P. Vodden. One of the dolphins was definitely male and died somewhere within this time.
1968 saw a dolphin called Simba (female) do a tour in the same area. This time the tank held 10,000 gallons of water.
Associated Pleasure Parks held at leasdt one more tour in 1970 with a dolphin called Mickey. Evidence relates that the tour was in Bournemouth in July 1970 and in Weymouth in September 1970. I have been unable to obtain any information of where they exhibited in 1969 or if they continued after 1970.
Battersea Park Dolphinarium (1st April 1971-1973)Owned and operated by Marine Mammals International which was run by a Mr Raber.
The dolphinariums address was: Battersea Dolphinarium, The Fun Fair, Battersea Park, London SW11. It must be made strictly clear that this enterprise had nothing to do with Battersea Park Zoo which was (and is) a completely separate entity.
The pool was a circular steel tank 9.72m in diameter (roughly 30') and 3.66m deep (roughly 12'). The pool had a tiled base for ease of cleaning and was located within a converted building in the middle of the funfair. As such it had to be artificially lit with no sunlight entering the building.
There were at least two (and quite probably yhree) resident dolphins although others may have been acclimatised her by Marine Mammals International before being sent to dolphinariums in Europe.
A severe fire ripped through the building in 1973 and althought the pool and the dolphins survived the building was unable to be repaired. As such the dolphins were relocated to Porthcawl.
Battersea, Touring(December 1972)
Oddly in light of the fact that dolphinarium was already in existence in Battersea Park, a touring dolphin show that was housed in a large tent or inflatable dome visited Battersea in December 1972.
Belle Vue Zoo, Manchester
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The above video doesn't show the dolphinarium but is a nice little video of the zoo in its heyday.
There were two zoos in Manchester the first from the early 1830's was owned by a Mr John Jennison at his family home, which initially was just his own collection of animals and which he later opened to the public. When the collection outgrew his home he moved the zoo.
This became the second Manchester Zoo which was more commonly known as Belle Vue Zoo Park (not to be confused with Belle Vue which is Belfast Zoo!). The address was: Belle Vue Zoo Park, Hyde Road, Manchester.
The zoo had various owners in its more than 140 year history: John Jennison (1836-1925), unknown (1925 to 197? (possibly 1973)) and finally Trust Houses Forte (which was formerly called Entam) (197? to the zoos closure in 1977, although the animals remained until rehoused in 1978).
In December 1972 Glasser (from Switzerland) brought a temporary dolphin show to the zoo which held two dolphins in a portable pool. This wasn't all that unusual as Belle Vue often had a circus with animal acts over the winter period right up until its closure.
Blackpool Dolphinarium (1969)On the Golden Mile and appears to have been between Central and North Pier and near to the tower.
Three bottlenose dolphins were brought from South Africa for a summer show in 1969, for one season. One animal died and the other two were exported to Malta. These animals visited other dolphinaria and were seen again in South Africa in the 1970's. One may have been the animal Maria (Speedy) which later visited Clacton and Sandown.
Their is some conflict as to who the dolphins belonged to. Some suggest Marine Mammals International, while others suggest a Mr Fletcher from South Africa. The dolphins were called Sinbad and Prontoand the other could have been Maria (AKA Speedy) who later appeared at Clacton and Sandown, Isle of Wight.One of the dolphins died while at Blackpool and the other two went on to appear at other dolphinaria in the UK and went back to South Africa (where they were seen at dolphin shows) in the 1970's.
Blair Drummond Safari Park (Seasonally (Summer only) Easter 1971 - October 1984)
n operation and is located at: Blair Drummond Safari Park by Stirling, Scotland. The Safari Park was opened in 1970 by the then owners Mr J Chipperfield (of Chipperfield Circus fame), Sir John Muir, Keir and Cawdor Estates.
The dolphinarium was only seasonal and ran in the summer between 1971 and 1984. The dolphins were owned at various times by Mr J Chipperfield, Trident Television (yes, really. the ITV station based in Scarborough), Trust Houses Forte (also known as Entam( and Mr Terry Nutkins (a disciple of Gavin Maxwell who would later find fame on the BBC children's programme "The Really Wild Show".) The show was operated by Scarborough Marineland and Zoo.
The dolphinarium was housed in what is known as a "free span" building. This basically means that the walls and ceiling support the structure and as such there is nothing between the walls obstructing the view (walls etc). The building was located near the restaurant and children's zoo. It had a plastic lined sunken pool that measured 15.24m (roughly 50') by 6.10m (roughly 18') and 3.05m deep (roughly 10') deep.
Trident Television (Scarborough) supplied the dolphins from about 1974 to 1978. Trust Houses Forte then supplied the dolphins from 1978-83and finally Terry Nutkins supplied the dolphins in 1984. There is no information about Mr Chipperfield's animals.
Some of the dolphins went uder the names 'Flipper' and 'Scottie' but were also known as Chemo and Jenkie. Mr Braithwaite, the trainer at the time, gave the life histories of Flipper (Chemo) and Scottie (Jenkie). The trainer was a Mr Braithwaite. When not on show they overwintered in Malta and Gibraltar (although at the end this was changed to Scarborough, presumably because of the expense.)
There is a suggestion that they were the same Flipper (male) and Jenkie (female) who performed at a dolphinarium in the winter season of 1976/1977. It was reported at the time that Jenkie was "pregnant" however this was a euphemism often used to explain an absence from the show (which could have meant death, sent to another facility, ill etc,). It was also reported that one of these dolphins died on the journey back to the UK.
The last two dolphins exhibited here were trained by a Ms Moore and were called Sooty and Clyde. When the dolphinarium closed in 1984 they to Knowsley along with Ms Moore.
The dolphinarium is still there but is now a sealion show.
Bradford (unknown)
This show was held in a swimming pool (presumably council owned). It was a purely seasonal show and only lasted for one season.
The owner of the dolphins (unknown names) was Mr Franklin (or Holloway) of Margate.
Brean Down Dolphinarium (11th July 1974 until 21st September 1974)
Was located at: Mid-Somerset Leisure Centre, Bream, Somerset.The owner was a Mr E Cowell from Devon, however the dolphins were leased from the owners and trainers Mr C Riggs and Miss L Hradek of Margate.
Two dolphins arived on the 11th July 1974 from Margate. Presumably the idea was to be a long standing arrangement however the dolphins were removed from the premises by their owners on the 21st September 1974 amid allegations over the standard of care and suitability of the facilities the dolphins were under.
Brighton Aquarium and Dolphinarium (1968 -1992)
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The above video shows dolphins in Flamingo Park but the exterior shows Brighton Aquarium and Dolphinarium from the film "Fruit Machine" from 1988.
Housed at: Brighton Aquarium and Dolphinarium, Marine Parade/Madiera Drive, Brighton BN2 1TB, Sussex, and owned by Aquarium Entertainments Ltd.
The aquarium was built in 1862 and was officially opened by HRH Prince Arthur in 1872. The aquarium was redesigned in 1927 and in 1935 all records relating to the aquarium to that point were lost in "the Great Storm".
Prior to the dolphinarium as we know it there had been a few previous attempts at keeping cetaceans at the aquarium: prior to 1876 they hadattempted to keep net entangled harbour porpoises and certainly by 1914 there had been a birth to one of these animals. In fact this appears to be the first successful cetacean birth in captivity.
There are also references to keeping a white whale with some success after 1878 (presumably a beluga).
Run by Brighton Corporation until 1955 it was leased from them by Aquarium Entertainments Ltd under the directorship of Mr F C Glover and Mr E E Sander. In 1968 a new pool was built to house two dolphins who were shipped from Miami. This pool is now used by sealions.
In 1969 a larger pool was constructed (which is the current sealion pool). Following a competition the dophins were renamed Prinny and Belle and were moved to the new pool in April 1969.
Four more dolphins were due to move into the pool at the same time but were delayed due to an airline strike and moved in later. This made the total number of dolphins to 6, however only four performed in shows due to the fact that one of the females (Missus) had a calf called Baby (later renamed as Missie). These last two were rescued stranded dolphins and were kept apart from the others in the smaller original pool.
In 1977 in conjunction with Scarborough the decision was made to import six new dolphins from Mexico. Only five could be bought at that time and they were shipped to the UK. However they became chilled on the way over and subsequently became ill. Four of them later died. The remaining animal made a full recovery and was sent to Scarborough.
In 1979, in association with Mr R Bloom, a group of six dolphins were purchased from Ocean Park , Hong Kong after originally being capture in Taiwan.They had already had a period of time to acclimatise to captivity. They were meant to go to Clacton but the pier was damaged in a storm. They were temporarily housed in a converted swimming pool in Worthing. Two of these animals were sent to Brighton (Connie and Bertie) and the rest were exported, presumably to Europe.
Silver (a male) arrived from Ocean Park, Hong Kong in 1978; Poppy arived in 1972 and gave birth to a baby in 1981, which sadly only survived for three weeks;Soukie is the baby of Silver and Missieand was born in September 1985.
The head trainers were: Mr M Lester and Mr R Newton assisted by Ms A Karas, Mr Z Scott, Ms N Dancey and Ms M Leach.Veterinary services were provided by Mr P. B. Clarke, BVSc, MRCVS. Consultants to the aquarium were:Mr A. G. Greenwood, MA, VetMB, MRCVS; Mr D. C. Taylor, BVMS, FRCVS (both of whom were partners in the International Zoo Veterinary Group); Mr V. J. A. Manton, MRCVS, FIBiol; Mr D. M. Jones, BSc, BVetMed, MRCVS, FIBiol. Mr Nutkins and Mr Tiebor were also approached for advice in connection with dolphin births at the aquarium.
There were two pools. The main pool was an elongated octagon measuring 22m (roughly 70') by 9.2m (about 28') and 3m deep (about 9 1/2') witha surface area of 175m2. There was also a trapezium shaped holding pool with a surface area of 55m2 and 3m deep. The holding pool was filtered separately to the main pool but could not be emptied without emptying the main pool. Total surface area of the combined pools was about 230m2. The pool was indoor and used natural seawater (i.e. pumped in from the sea). The main pool had 20 1m x 1m viewing windows and was lined with glass-fibre and painted with sea plants.
The pool was the only one in the UK to have "brushes" on the bottom as enrichment for the animals. The holding pool whern not in use was left open for the animals to use as they wished.
Visitor numbers were as follows: 305,500 in 1983; 278,200 in 1984 and 298,750 in 1985.Due to extensive repair work in 1982-83 the dolphins were moved to a converted swimming pool in Brighton. Later on the entrance to the holding pool was altered only this time without removing the animals.
At one point it was planned that there would be an expansion of the complex to include a breeding and rearing pool as well as quarantine and isolation pools. It was suggested that this would double the water surface area.
Bristol (1974)
Housed in a converted swimming pool. The dolphins were owned by Trust Houses Forte (Terry Nutkins). This was a one off Christmas show with animals from Woburn. There are anecdotes that there were other shows at other times and other years but nothing can be substantiated.
Chipperfields (unknown dates)
The dolphins were owned by Mr Chipperfield from Coventry. The dolphins were moved at least onece in order to perform in Weymouth and possibly other locations.
Clacton Pier Dolphinarium
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This video shows the dolphin show at Clacton Pier in 1973.
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Nemo and Neptune the killer whales at Clacton in 1983.
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Nemo Show Pt 1 from 1983
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Nemo Show Pt 2 from 1983
North Sea World Training Dolphins School, The Pier, Clacton- on Sea, Essex.
Owner: Mr R. Bloom.
Opened: 1971. Closed: summer 1985 (Possibly also closed between 1979 and 1981).
Outdoor, former swimming pool, 32.20 x 19.30 m; depth at centre 3.20 m sloping to 2.40 m at either side, with a holding pool 10.67 m2 included. Guided tours and lectures are mentioned by Williamson and Schoenberg (1976) and there was a natural history exhibit. This was a training establishment, with a number of animals passing through. The main residents were the bottlenose dolphins, Bubbles and Squeak, and most recently the three young killer whales. The last animal, Nemo, was moved to Windsor in the summer of 1985. Mr Bloom also obtained and transported animals for other owners. There was a strandings rescue service. Donaldson (1976) carried out studies on the use of the tongue and the sense of taste, with Bubbles and Squeak. A dolphin, Echo, was loaned to F. Hussain of King's College, University of London in 1972. The animal was to have been taken to King's for research on intelligence and communication, but the transfer was not completed.Cleethorpes Zoo and Marineland
Cleethorpes Marineland and Zoo, Humberston, Lincolnshire.
Owner: the same as Flamingo, probably throughout. 1974 Scotia Pleasure Parks Ltd.
Opened: 1965. Closed: 1976 ? (summers only).
The dolphin pool was outdoor, polygonal, fibre-glass lined, about 12.19 m across and 2.44 m deep. There is no information on any additional accommodation for the other species kept. Animals wintered at Flamingo, and may also have participated in winter shows elsewhere. There was much movement between the establishments in the group and it is very difficult to establish which were 'Cleethorpes' animals - if there were such. It is possible that available animals performed as required. Cleethorpes may also have been used for holding animals outside the summer season. Taylor (1976) mentions an artificial insemination attempt between the killer whales Calypso of Cleethorpes and Cuddles of Flamingo. A white whale was kept here briefly, and possible also a pilot whale. Trainers: Mr J. Dudley and Mr F. Rendell.Coventry Zoo Dolphinarium
Coventry Zoo Park, Whitley Common, (or London Road), Coventry, Warwickshire.
Owner: Mr W. Chipperfield.
Opened: 1966.
Dolphinarium: Easter 1971 - May 1975.
The 12.19 m diameter, 4.27 m deep sunken pool was housed in a circular plastic dome structure. The fish preparation facilities are said to have been inadequate. Mr W. Chipperfield, related to, but not associated with Chipperfield Organisation or Chipperfield's Circus, operated the Coventry Zoo. The two dolphins were exported to Hagenbeck's, Germany in 1975. Trainers: Mr F. Rendell, Ms Robin; 1974 Mrs Chipperfield.
Dudley Zoo
Dudley Zoo, Castle Hill, Dudley, Warwickshire.
Owners: Dudley Zoological Society Ltd (The Earl of Dudley and Mr E. E. Marsh); Scotia Investments Ltd 1971-1978; Dudley and West Midlands Zoological Society (charitable trust, jointly administered by Bristol Zoo and Dudley local authority).
Opened: 1937.
Dolphinarium: May 1971 to April 1974 or 1975.
The outdoor whale and dolphin pools were adapted from sea-lion pools in the castle moat. The roughly pear-shaped whale pool was about 15.24 x 6.1-10.67 x 3.66 m deep and the adjoining dolphin pool larger, but shallower, only one part being 3.05 m deep. The dolphins wintered at Flamingo; the killer whale may have remained. Dolphins may have been present in 1975. The female bottlenose dolphin, Winkie, from Scarborough was to have performed at the opening, but she died earlier at Scarborough.Flamingo Park Zoo (AKA Flamingoland)
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The above video shows the dolphins at Flamingo Park however the exteriors show Brighton Aquarium and Dolphinarium.
The Dolphinarium at Flamingo Land Ltd, Kirby Misperton, Nr Malton, North Yorkshire.
Flamingo Land Ltd is a private corporation owned and directed by Mr A. Gibb.
General Manager: Mr T. Pullen.
Dolphinarium Manager and Head Trainer: Mr P. Bloom, BSc.
Trainer: Mr C. Wright, BSc.
Veterinary care: Dr J. Sweeney, VMD, (USA); Mr A. G. Greenwood, MA, VetMB, MRCVS; Mr D. C. Taylor, BVMS, FRCVS.
Pool: 'Figure of eight' shaped main pool; 24.38 m max. length, 2 x 12.19 m diameter, 3/4 pool 4.27 m deep, rest 2.74 m, surface area approx. 233 m2 .
Rectangular holding pool adjoining; 6.40 x 7.62 x 3.05 m deep, surface area 48.77 m2 , which can be operated separately. Total surface area approx. 282 m2
Partly indoor, salt mix water.
Animals: 3 female bottlenose dolphins.
Owned by Dolphin Services (Bloom UK), supplied under contract.
History
The zoological gardens at Kirby Misperton were founded by Mr Pentland Hick about 1959. Mr D. Robinson and others were in association. Until the present owners took over in 1978 the establishment was known as Flamingo Park. (We refer to the establishment as 'Flamingo', for simplicity.)
Flamingo was the first establishment in the UK to exhibit bottlenose dolphins. (The pair brought to the UK in 1962, from Italy, were intended for filming - see Plymouth, Former Dolphinaria section.) The first dolphins (Flipper and her one year old female calf, Cookie) arrived on 20.6.63, flown in from Florida, accompanied by Dr John C. Lilly. The animals are said to have cost £ 2,500 and their pool (with filtration, temperature control and artificial sea water) £ 2,000 (Adams, 1972). Two more dolphins arrived in 1964. Mr Hick formed Associated Pleasure Parks, which opened a second zoo at Cleethorpes, with a dolphin exhibit. These dolphins probably first came to Flamingo for training, establishing a pattern for the future. Until about 1974, animals for UK and European dolphinaria arrived at Flamingo for training before moving to other establishments. Some animals returned to Flamingo for the winter, and some of these took part in winter tours. Unfortunately, all records stored at Flamingo were taken by the Receiver when the penultimate owners, Scotia Pleasure Parks Ltd, ceased business.
Mr Hick was very adventurous, not only in transport methods, but also in his search for new species to exhibit. The first dolphins travelled by air, but one of the consignments in 1966 travelled by sea in open tanks on the deck of a boat. Mr Hick sent his people far and wide. Mr Rendell (see Windsor) went to Canada to obtain white whales. A very young animal 'Titchl was flown in from Vancouver in 1964. It was 6 feet long, weighed 135 lbs and had been found stranded by fishermen. The animal was only about seven months old and had to be bottle fed. It did not survive for long. In 1965, four white whales were sent by sea from Quebec, travelling in tanks on the deck of the liner Arcadia. Two were lost overboard in a storm when the tank failed, one died and the other was injured. The survivor and the dead animal were landed. The survivor was taken to Cleethorpes, but died of its injuries about September 1965.
This was not the first attempt to keep white whales in the UK. In 1877 a female, taken in May by seine-net in Labrador, was sent by ship to Montreal and by rail to New York, where she was kept in an aquarium at Coney Island. The animal was sent by sea to the UK, travelling in a box of wet seaweed and having water poured over her at frequent intervals day and night. The 2.74 m animal swam about the 12.19 x 6.10 x 1.83 m deep 45,000 gallon fresh water tank at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster and ate live eels soon after arrival in the September, but died of pneumonia on the fourth day. Mr Farini, the entrepreneur, then sent Mr Zach. Coup, the catcher who had taken and accompanied the white whale, to Lerwick in the Shetland islands in search of a pilot whale as a replacement. This expedition was frustrated by bad weather. However, on 18.5.1878 four more white whales left the USA by ship and arrived on 27.5.1878. One animal had died during a storm, but the other three were sent to Pomona Gardens, Manchester, to Blackpool and to the Royal Aquarium, Westminster. These animals had been caught in the same place as the first, by Mr Coup. No information has been found on the further history of these animals, although the Westminster specimen is described as 'soon making itself at home in its new quarters' (Lee, 1878).
Mr D. C. Taylor (at that time veterinarian-curator) was sent to Greenland in search of narwhal and even on an unlikely expedition to Pakistan to follow up an offer of pygmy sperm whales (the ordinary sperm whales were considered to be too large, even by Mr Hick). Taylor (1976) describes the Pakistan affair -a new-born pygmy sperm whale was seen eventually, in a pool at Karachi, but it had been killed by a 'banger' firework in the anus. There was no sign of the mother, or of any other members of the species. A pair of Adriatic common dolphins were imported from Riccione, Italy, in 1964/5, but they were very stressed by the journey and only lasted a few days.
A number of attempts to obtain pilot whales were made. Staff travelled to a live stranding in Scotland (not recorded in the British Museum (Natural History) records) but were unable to obtain animals because of opposition from local landlords. They may also have been involved in the attempt by Mr John Sadler, on behalf of Billy Smart, to catch pilot whales which strayed into the Thames in 1965 - see Windsor. Mr R. Bloom and Mr Rendell did bring a baby pilot whale back from the Faroes hunt in 1966. The animal was very young and died after a few days. Either Cleethorpes or Flamingo had another pilot whale, source unknown, in October 1964.
In 1966 a new pool, designed by Mr R. Bloom, was opened. It was extended to form the '8' shape it has today in 1968, for the reception of Cuddles, an 11 112 ft young male killer whale. The animal, which was thought at the time to be female, arrived from Seattle by air, accompanied by Mr D. C. Taylor. (Cuddles was moved to Dudley in 1971 and died there in 1974, just before he was due to move to his new home in Nice.) Taylor (1976) describes an unsuccessful artificial insemination attempt between Cuddles and the older female Calypso of Cleethorpes.
Besides the failure to obtain a wide range of cetacean species, Flamingo had some problems with the bottlenose dolphins. At least five pregnant animals arrived from the USA in September 1965. None of the young survived and one of the females was also lost. There was a stillbirth in 1966 (or possibly at Cleethorpes), and another birth in 1967. These would most likely all have been wild conceptions. (Movement of pregnant animals is today not approved by IATA and CITES regulations, except in emergency where the risks of not moving the animal outweigh the risk of travel - see Standards section.) In 1969 there was great excitement over the birth of a captive conceived calf to Moby and Dolly. According to press cuttings the calf lived for two weeks. This seems to be the first captive conceived birth in the UK.
However, financial problems arose and Mr Hick sold Flamingo to Scotia Pleasure Parks Ltd in 1969. From then until 1973, Flamingo and Cleethorpes were run together with Scarborough. Another dolphinarium was opened for the summer in about 1970, at Gwrych Castle in North Wales, but there were problems with the portable pool and Gwrych seems to have only been open for one or two seasons. In 1971 Scotia took over Dudley and moved dolphins and the killer whale, Cuddles, there. Flamingo sent two dolphins to Southsea by rail, for the 1973 summer season. This pair were then sold to Windsor, where one, Lulu, is still alive and gave birth to a surviving calf in 1984. Mr Robinson left Flamingo in December 1973. In March 1974 five dolphins were lost in 48 hours from hepatitis when structural failure allowed contaminated water into the main dolphin pool and water quality in the side pool, to which the animals had to be confined, became uncontrollable (see Welfare section). From about 1975-77 Mr Nolan supplied the Flamingo dolphins. The last three of these animals died from systemic candidiasis in 1976-77 when the water treatment system became contaminated with fungi (see Welfare section). The system was completely cleaned and partly renewed before three animals, provided by Margate, arrived for the 1978 summer season. No dolphins were exhibited between 1979 and 1984
Present
In about 1981, as a result of requests from visitors, preparations were made to house dolphins again. Renovations included a new filtration system, food storage and preparation areas, water testing laboratory, heating system, staff facilities and repairs to the building and seating. Animals were to be obtained, trained and managed by Mr R. Bloom on a sub-contract basis.
The pool was not quite ready in December 1983, and, as Mr Bloom's import permit was about to expire, the new animals were temporarily brought in to Knowsley. One of the three Flamingo animals died at Knowsley as did Knowsley's elderly male animal (see Welfare section). When the Flamingo pool was ready in February 1984, the two remaining Flamingo animals and the Knowsley female were moved together to Flamingo (see Knowsley for details).
The zoo and dolphinarium are closed in winter. In the colder months, the dolphins are kept mainly in the indoor area of the pool, which can be enclosed by sliding doors. The trainers reside in a caravan, adjacent to the dolphin pool, throughout the year and the animals are never left unattended. The animals are trained to retrieve foreign objects from the pool and present them to the trainer. Trainers regularly swim with the dolphins and recreational swimming with the animals is allowed, under the supervision of the trainers and at the participants' own risk. A class of 27 children recently swam with the animals for the television programme Jim'll Fix It.
The dolphins are the only animals in the Park managed by a sub-contract. This arrangement was made because of the specialised knowledge required. The Park provides the facilities and Dolphin Services (Bloom UK) provide the animals. On all matters to do with the welfare of the animals, the Head Trainer has authority. This includes the number of shows per day, although the Park management may make requests.
Relevant staff
Mr P. Bloom has a BSc in fishery science and eight years experience with dolphinaria. He has worked at Clacton, Windsor, Hong Kong, two dolphinaria in Spain and in Manila, the Philippines, (where he designed the pool, oversaw the construction, collected the dolphins from Taiwan and trained the animals and staff). Mr P. Bloom has a certificate of registration, Performing Animals Regulation 1975, from Essex County Council.
Mr C. Wright has four years experience with dolphins, at Clacton and Flamingo. At Flamingo he also has day-to-day responsibility for the aquarium in the underwater viewing area, which exhibits a small selection of North Sea fauna and flora, collected by staff and friends. He has a BSc in biological sciences, specializing in marine biology and environmental sciences.
Mr R. Bloom, with over 20 years experience in all aspects of dolphin husbandry and training, is available for consultation.
Dr Sweeney has instructed the staff in general health care and in his methods of training animals to present for medical examination.
Future Plans
There are no plans for expansion of the facilities at the moment. When the dolphins are of a suitable age, the owners would like to obtain a proven male, possibly on temporary loan, for breeding.Gwrych Castle Dolphinarium
Run by Scotia Investments for one season only in the early 1970's.
North Wales - near St Asaph.
Owner: Scotia (Flamingo).
Open: about 1970 for one or possibly two summers.
Dolphins: from Flamingo.
The free-standing, plastic lined, portable tank was said to leak, leaving the animals stranded. There were also said to be major filtration problems. Trainers: Mr B. Lyle and Ms D. Lyle.Knowsley Safari Park
Knowsley Safari Park, Prescot, Nr. Liverpool, Merseyside.
Owner: The Right Honourable, the Earl of Derby, MC. (private company).
Manager: Mr L. D. Tennant, MBE, MRCVS.
Head Trainer: Ms M. Moore. Trainee: Ms A. Langley.
Veterinary care: Mr A. G. Greenwood, MA, VetMB, MRCVS; Mr D. C. Taylor, BVMS, FRCVS.
Pool: Rectangular main pool; 15.24 x 7.62 x 3.96 m deep. 2 holding pools, 3.05 x 3.05 x 3.05 m deep, which can be isolated and emptied separately. Indoor, salt mix water.
Animals: 1 male and 1 female bottlenose dolphins.
History
In the early 19th century, the 13th Earl of Derby established a menagerie at Knowsley. He collected and bred rare and exotic species. The collection had 318 bird species and 94 species of other animals, as well as a museum. Edward Lear stayed at Knowsley and produced a series of bird and animal drawings, which are still in the library. Lear also entertained the Earl's grandchildren with the material later published as the 'Book of Nonsense' and other works.
Knowsley was opened to the public as a safari park in July 1971, after a partnership was formed between the 18th Earl and Mr Jimmy Chipperfield. The dolphin pool and building were completed and opened in June 1972 by Trust Houses Forte Leisure Ltd (at that time known as Entam). The operation was owned and controlled by Trust Houses Forte on a contract basis. This company also owned Rhyl and animals moved between Knowsley and Rhyl, wintering together at Knowsley. In later years animals wintered at Trust Houses Forte's Woburn establishment.
By 1975, the ex-Rhyl Flipper (Eccles) and Blodwyn were providing the summer show. After Blodwyn died at Woburn in January 1980, new animals were required. Mr Nutkins (see Windsor), at that time General Manager of Trust Houses Forte dolphinaria, decided to seek animals from the Far Eastern drive fisheries which would otherwise be slaughtered for human consumption, rather than American animals, which would otherwise not be disturbed. The Far Eastern fisheries are described by Hammond and Leatherwood (1984). Mr Nutkins and Mr D. C. Taylor accompanied Ocean Park (Hong Kong) personnel to Taiji, Japan in April 1980. The expedition was filmed for the BBC TV Animal Magic programme. Four animals were obtained, two remained at Ocean Park and two were brought to the UK. (No Taiji expedition at the right date is listed by Leatherwood and Hammond (1984), or by Kasuya, Tobayama and Matsui (1984).)
The two Japanese females (Sooty and Sabrina) performed with Flipper (Eccles) at Knowsley in summer 1980. However, Flipper (Eccles) fought with them and he was sold to Germany (Tiebor) at the end of the season. ('Fighting' is sometimes a euphemism for sexual activity disruptive to shows and embarrassing for presenters. Flipper (Eccles) was likely to have been mature by this time; having been captive for at least eight years he must have been ten or more years old.) Sabrina, who had never been very well, died at Woburn in October 1980. No dolphins performed at Knowsley in 1982, Sooty having gone to Blair Drummond with Clyde because his usual partner, Bonnie, had died in June 1982. Sooty and Clyde performed at Blair Drummond as 'Flipper' and 'Scottie'.
Trust Houses Forte gave up their contract with Knowsley at the beginning of 1983, because of the difficulty and expense of obtaining replacement dolphins. A new arrangement was made with Mr R. Bloom, who obtained a permit to import two dolphins from the USA. The first animal, Lindy (Lyndenburg), was a male who had been in Marineland, Palos Verdes, California for about 12 years and had become a social outcast within the group in one of their holding pools. He was captured off Florida in 1972. He arrived in March 1983, became ill with phlebitis about Christmas 1983 and died in February 1984 of liver failure (see Welfare section). A young female, Lottie (Charlotte), caught in March 1983 by Dr Sweeney off the Florida west coast, north of Charlotte Harbour, arrived in July 1983.
Mr Bloom had also obtained a permit to import dolphins to Flamingo at this time. Three young females, caught by Dr Sweeney off Charlotte Harbour, Florida, at the end of October 1983, were imported in December 1983 and brought to Knowsley because the pool at Flamingo was not quite ready and Mr Bloom's import permit ran out at the end of 1983. One of the three, Sybil, who had not been well since arrival, died of drowning and peritonitis in February 1984 (see Welfare section). Lottie was moved to Flamingo with the two remaining females in February 1984, rather than leave her alone at Knowsley. There was no dolphin display at Knowsley in the summer of 1984.
Present
In October 1984, Sooty and Clyde were brought to Knowsley from Blair Drummond. Mr Nutkins had purchased them from Trust Houses Forte when the company gave up their dolphin interests in 1983/4, to prevent the animals being sold abroad. Their trainer, Ms Moore, arrived with them. Clyde was caught in Florida in the late 1960's and moved to Beirut after a stay at Fort Lauderdale, USA. Mr R. Bloom brought him from Beirut to Oxford Street probably early in 1971. From about 1973 he went to Trust Houses Forte, performing at Rhyl and Blair Drummond. He wintered at Woburn and, possibly in the early years, at Knowsley. He must now be in his late 20's and approaching the maximum life span known for wild bottlenose dolphins. Sooty's history is given above. These animals provided the display in the summer of 1985. In September 1985 Knowsley were granted permission by the Department of the Environment to buy the animals from Mr Nutkins and to display them until 30.6.86.
The park and dolphinarium are closed in winter. There is no underwater viewing. The filtration system has been completely renewed recently and water turnover is about two and a half hours. There is a separate charge for entry to the dolphinarium. Recreational swimming with the dolphins is not allowed, but the trainers regularly swim with the animals in summer. No births have taken place in the pool.
Relevant staff
Ms Moore has seven years experience in dolphinaria and has worked at Brighton, Blair Drummond and in Switzerland.
Ms Langley is a trainee, who started in March 1985. She presents the shows.
Ms Moore and Ms Langley look after the dolphins between them, arriving at 12.00 and leaving after the late feed. They take turns to have free days and cover for each other during holidays. Mr Tennant is prepared to act as reserve presenter if required.
Future plans
Knowsley would like to continue keeping dolphins. They found that the public complained when none were kept; in particular, school party projects were frustrated. They wish to keep the animals as owners, not on a contract basis, since they prefer to have full responsibility. There is plenty of land available adjacent to the existing dolphinarium for expansion of facilities.
Leeds
Associated Pleasure Parks, Flamingo.
See Associated Pleasure Parks, touring.
Liverpool
Swimming pool.
Owner (dolphins): Franklin/Holloway (Margate).
A winter season show in Council swimming baths at unknown date(s).London Dolphinarium
The London Dolphinarium, 65 Oxford Street, London W1.
Owned: Pleasurama Ltd (Chairman: Sir Harmar Nicholls, MP)
Opened: April 1971. Closed: 1972 or 1973.
The indoor pool was 14.63 x 5.18-6.40 x 3.05 m deep, with a holding pool 4.27 x 5.18 x 2.13 m deep. Taylor (1980) says that the males had to be treated with anti-androgens to prevent them making vigorous amorous advances to the 'aquamaids' who took part in the show. He says that the establishment was never a great financial success. Burton (1972) mentions an experimental lecture and demonstration service for schools. Trainers: Mr B. Whitehead and Mr G. Marshal.Margate Dolphinarium
Cliftonville Dolphinarium, The Queens Hotel, Cliftonville, Margate, Kent.
Owners: Mr K. R. Franklin, Mr L. D. Holloway.
Opened: first dolphins arrived in April 1969, advertised as open in 1970. Closed: sometime between 1977 and 1980.
This was an indoor, permanent pool, adapted from an existing swimming pool, 21.34 x 10.67 x 2.74 - 3.66 m deep, with underwater viewing from the hotel bar. Margate was a major centre for seasonal shows, animals going out to Skegness and Southend in summer and wintering at Margate or doing winter shows elsewhere. Animals were provided for one or two summers to West Midland Safari Park and for one summer to Flamingo. Liverpool, Bradford and other Council swimming pools were used for short, seasonal shows. The Queen's Entertainment Centre leased dolphins from Aquatic Mammals Enterprises. In October 1974, the six animals present were owned by the then main company, with others leased. Mr Holloway and Mr Franklin are listed as trainers in 1974. Mr Garcia also trained here.
Queen's International Dolphins of Thanet operated until 1980 as suppliers, collectors and trainers of dolphins. The last pair were said to be Bonnie and Clyde, sold to Gasser. Ixia Trading Company was another Margate based company supplying dolphins. Mr C. Riggs and Miss L. Hradek, described as the owners/trainers of the Bream dolphins were based at Margate. They leased another dolphin to Mr Cowell in September 1973, which died.Morecambe Marineland
Morecambe Marineland, Stone Jetty, Morecambe, Lancashire.
Owner and operator: Ocean World (Marine) Ltd.
Managing Director: Mr R. Houlton.
Manager and Head Trainer: Mr J. Braithwaite.
Trainer and Schools Liason Officer: Mrs B. Braithwaite.
Veterinary care: Mr A. G. Greenwood, MA, VetMB, MRCVS; Mr D. C. Taylor, BUMS, FRCVS
Pools: A: 11.75 x 10.50 x 5.50 m; surface area 123 m2 B: 10.80 x 9.25 x 2.50 m; surface area 100 m2 Total surface area 223 m2 .
Outdoor, natural sea water.
Animal: 1 male bottlenose dolphin.
Owned by Ocean World (Marine) Ltd.
History
The late Mr Robert Jackson conceived the idea of building a marineland at Morecambe. He was the first Managing Director of Marineland (Morecambe) Ltd, which built and ran the marineland in the first year. Mr George Lansdale was also involved. A block of research laboratories and underwater viewing were mentioned in the early specifications but were not included in the final plans, for financial reasons, although the first guidebook mentions hopes for research laboratories as well as educational programmes for schools and other groups. Six bottlenose dolphins imported from Miami Seaquarium, Florida were present for the opening on 9.6.64. This private company went into liquidation after the first year and Morecambe and Heysham Corporation (as guarantors) took over. Mr Jackson continued as consultant until his death in May 1969. The Corporation sold the Marineland to Trident Television in April 1977. The present owners took over in late 1983.
Although Mr Nick Jackson has kindly provided information about the early days, the records of Morecambe and Heysham Corporation appear to have been lost during the local government reorganisation. At some point one of the aquaria may have been adapted as an underwater viewing tank, containing two dolphins. The small watertight door used to admit animals can still be seen at the back of this tank. However, it is possible that the tank was used for seals, not dolphins. The trainers at one stage were Mr S. Gallagher and Mrs S. Gallagher. Mr Gallagher spent some time there in 1965, returning after working in Europe and at Flamingo.
Since 1972, when Mr Coomber the aquarist arrived, a total of seven bottlenose dolphins have lived at Morecambe. The original group were Rocky, Sadie and Hattie. Two females, Cleo and Cindy, arrived in 1975, having spent some years previously in the 'petting pool' at Japanese Village, Los Angeles. Cindy died soon after and Cleo was moved to Windsor in 1977 and sold to Gasser, Switzerland. The newly caught Blue and Amber spent the winter at Windsor and performed with Rocky from 1981. Under Trident, animals wintered at Windsor while Morecambe was closed. Rocky last wintered at Windsor in 1983-84. Morecambe currently closes for the winter, but before 1977 was open all year, although the dolphins only performed in summer.
Present
Amber and Rocky were sold to the new owners, but Amber died at Windsor and Rocky returned alone to Morecambe in 1984.
In addition to the dolphin, Morecambe exhibits other aquatic animals: currently sea lions, alligators, marine turtles, tropical marine and freshwater fish, cold freshwater fish and local marine fauna. The sea lions mainly use pool B and the dolphin, pool A, although the animals are allowed the run of both pools at times.
The pools contain natural sea water, drawn from the Bay via a 100,000 gallon settling tank, filtered and chlorinated. The Bay water is closely monitored by the Central Electricity Generating Board because of local power stations. They would give warning of any major changes, for example in pollutant levels.
The dolphin is trained to bring foreign objects back for food reward. He sometimes stores suitable material eg. feathers, to obtain rewards when required. The staff believe that Rocky's performance is aided by the deep pool (much the deepest in the country), enabling him to gain more height for leaps. Recreational swimming with the dolphin* is not allowed. Staff believe that this is not in keeping with the dignity and character of the animal and is part of the anthropomorphic attitudes to dolphins which they deplore.
Dolphins visit Morecambe bay from time to time. In 1980 a stranded common dolphin was nursed in a back-tank for nine weeks, but was too ill to help permanently. Stranded seals are also nursed here and released when fit.
Relevant staff
Mr Braithwaite has 12 years experience in dolphinaria and has been at Morecambe since 1977. He has worked at Blair Drummond, Scarborough, Gibraltar, Knowsley and in South Africa. He is an electrical engineer and also maintains the plant. Mr Braithwaite has contacts at Nice, Majorca and South Africa. He welcomes the current custom of trainers visiting each other at the end of the season to exchange ideas, in contrast to the old days when training was a closely guarded secret.
Mrs Braithwaite has 14 years experience as a dolphin trainer and has been at Morecambe since 1977. She has worked at Blair Drummond, Scarborough, Gibraltar, Knowsley and South Africa.
Other staff are taken on in summer. A local student currently assists with the dolphin in vacations and there is a trainee dolphin keeper. Mr H. Coomber, who was appointed in 1972, is responsible for the aquaria.
Future
Morecambe have plans to extend their pools and would like to obtain two female dolphins from the USA to forma social group with a view to breeding.
Newcastle
Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
See Associated Pleasure Parks, touring.Ocean Park, Sunderland (1973-1975)
Ocean Park was (it is still in operation as a funfair) built and developed by John Colins a local fair owner. In a collaboration with Jervale Ltd (who owned the Animal Training School and Dolphinarium) a seasonal dolphin show was operated within the grounds.
The dolphins were sent from Flamingo Park for the summer months and returned to Flamingo Park for the remainder of the year.
It appears that this collaboration only happened for 2 or 3 years.
Plymouth
Swimming pool.
Dolphins: BBC ?
Adams (1972) says that this was the first modern attempt, since some strandings rescues in the 1930's, to keep cetaceans in the UK. In about 1962, two female bottlenose dolphins, from 'captive Italian stock', were transported by road and air to an outdoor swimming pool in Plymouth. They were brought by Mr T. Soper and Mr. K. M. Backhouse, contributors to the BBC TV programme Animal Magic (Backhouse, 1966). There is a photograph of one animal on the foam rubber travelling mattress in Backhouse (1966). The animals were said to have been imported by the BBC for a wildlife programme (BBC TV Watchdog programme, 1984). They were said to have travelled well and started eating squid and herrings, but both died on the eighth day, apparently from malnutrition (Adams, 1972). A television programme (BBC - Ride a Dolphin) on 12.12.62 included film of the transport and arrival. Similar film was included in the Animal Magic programme of 10.6.64.Porthcawl Dolphinarium (1971-1974)
Porthcawl Dolphinarium, Coney Beach, Porthcawl, S. Glamorgan.
Owner: Sir Leslie Joseph, Entam (later Trust Houses Forte Leisure).
Dolphins: Mr Raber (Battersea); 1973 Jervale Ltd, Flamingo Park (Mr Nolan).
Opened: summer 1971. Closed: summer 1974.
The pool, in a precast concrete building, was 13.72 x 6.71 x 2.74 m deep. In October 1974 it was said that the dolphins wintered at Flamingo. It is not clear when the change from Battersea to Flamingo animals took place, possibly for the 1973 season. Trainer: Ms D. Steele.Originally built and run by Marine Mammals International (owned by Joe Raber). The dolphinarium closed in 1974 with the last two dolphins going to Royalty Theatre Dolphinarium (Royalty Folies).
The dolphinarium was then altered to accommodate sea lions with shows run by Jervale Ltd (who owned Animal Training School and ran dolphin shows at Flamingo Park and Ocean Park) for another year in 1975.
Ramsgate
Owner: Pleasurama.
Opened: 1971 ? Closed: 1972.
This pool was never open to the public, but used for resting and training dolphins for Oxford Street and for export to Majorca.Rhyl Dolphinarium
Rhyl Dolphinarium, Promenade, Rhyl, Clwyd.
Owner: Entam (later Trust Houses Forte Leisure).
Opened: 28.6.72 (Whitsun). Closed: 1975 ?
The permanent indoor pool was 15.24 x 7.62 x 3.05 m deep and had also a small holding pool. The Trust Houses Forte animals wintered at Knowsley and later at Woburn. Animals performed under the names 'Flipper' and 'Blodwyn'.Royalty Theatre Dolphinarium (1974)
Owner: Paul Raymond.
Dolphins: Mr Raber (Battersea).
Opened: scheduled 25.3.74, but possibly later. Closed: about two weeks later.
The dolphin act was part of a Paul Raymond nude review and is said to have had a short run due to adverse criticism. The famous 'dolphin strip tease' appears to have been accomplished by training the ;animals to press quick-release fasteners and the swimmers to position themselves appropriately; not by soaking the bikinis in fish meal or by hiding pieces of fish in the costumes. Trainers: Mr D. Garcia and Mr J. Dineley.The dolphinarium was housed in the Royalty Theatre, London and was originally called Royalty Folies but was soon renamed as the much less mysterious "Great International Nude Show".
The dolphinarium was the brainchild of Paul Raymond who at that time owned "Raymond's Review Bar".
The dolphinarium was a curious mix of striptease and straight dolphin show. There were two dolphins called Pixie and Penny who were there for the entire 12 week season from April to June 1974.
The two dolphins were housed in a pool that weighed 65 tonnes and held 10,000 gallons of water.
The dolphins were originally trained at Porthcawl. Immediately after the dolphinarium closed they went to Woburn Safari Park and then to Flamingo Park.
The dolphins were owned by Jervale Ltd who sent them abroad in 1977 (to the far east). Anyone wishing to learn more of this would do well to read David Taylor's now sadly out of print book "Doctor In The Zoo" where he relates the tragic tale. Suffice to say he was called out to treat the dolphins who were ill to find them in unfiltered water with liver damage and other health problems.
Sadly the dolphins were relocated to Britain and soon died from viral infections caught while in the Far East.
St. Asaph
Around 1967.
A female bottlenose dolphin and a suckling were flown in from Key Largo, Florida. There were feeding difficulties, and although attempts were made to express milk from the female for the baby, it died after two days. Some sources believe that this may be a confusion with Gwyrch Castle, but the date is too early. The report came at second hand from a former trainer here.Sandown Dolphinarium (Isle of Wight)
Isle of Wight Dolphinarium, Blue Lagoon, Esplanade, Sandown, Isle of Wight.
Owner: Performing Dolphins Ltd (Mr Cowell).
Opened: June 1971 or 1972. Closed: after 1973 summer season.
An adapted outdoor swimming pool, 24.38 x 6.10 x 2.44 - 3.05 m deep. The creditors of Performing Dolphins Ltd met in London in April 1974.Sandown Dolphinarium was operated by Ted Cowell (who also ran Brean Down Dolphinarium) in a disused swimming pool on Sandown sea front.
All but one of the dolphins was supplied by Aquatic Mammal Enterprises.
The dolphinariums at Sandown and Brean Down were both operated by Ted Cowell with all but one of the animals supplied by Aquatic Mammal Enterprises. Sandown was a converted swimming pool located at the Blue Lagoon area of Sandown sea-front.
Scarborough Marineland & Zoo (1969-1984)
Scarborough Marineland, Scarborough Zoo, North stead Road, Scarborough, Yorkshire.
Owners: Mr D. Robinson, Scotia, Trident Television, Knick Leisure Group plc.
Dolphins: Mr D. Robinson; Scotia; 1973-December 1983 Trident Television; 1984 Windsor Safari Park.
Opened: 1968.
Dolphinarium: 1968-1984.
The dolphin pool was 13.72 x 6.89 x 3.05 m deep, surface area 95 m2 ; open in summer but covered with a temporary timber structure in winter. The second, glass-sided tank, 12.19 x 4.88 x 2.74 m deep, surface area 60 m2 , was used at times as a dolphin holding or isolation pool and had a temporary wooden roof in winter. Three portable holding tanks of about 5,000 gallons each were noted in October 1974. The dolphins usually wintered elsewhere: Malta (1974 at least), South Africa (1975-1976), Gibraltar (1977?), Windsor (1978-1985), Christmas 1983/4 Belfast. Some animals travelled between Scarborough/Flamingo and Mr Robinson's establishment at Hemingford, Quebec in Canada about 1970 - 1974. Natural sea water was used in the early years, but artificial salt water later for improved water quality control. The dolphin pool was cooled in summer. Scarborough was run with Flamingo from 1969-1973, but there were earlier connections as Mr Robinson was one of the Flamingo founders. At that time Flamingo also supplied Dudley and Cleethorpes. Fran 1974-1978 Scarborough supplied the Blair Drummond dolphins. The Scarborough dolphins performed under the names of 'Flipper' and 'Jenkie'.
An expedition went to the Faros, possibly in the mid-1970's, in search of pilot whales for display. A wounded animal was obtained and kept in a pool for a short time, but was too ill to travel and was returned to the local people. A party of 20 Faroese schoolchildren were subsequently brought to Scarborough to see the dolphins and other exhibits. This was intended to influence the children against the pilot whale hunt.
Trainers: Mr G. Panofsky, Mr K. Ready, Mr D. Cartridge, Mr B. Samples, Mr B. Lyle, Mr S. Walton, Mr G. Mayer (from Majorca), Mr J. Braithwaite, Mrs B. Braithwaite.Owned and operated by Dan Robinson who at one time was involved with Scotia Leisure (who at one time owned Flamingo Park).
Dolphins from Scarborough were also sent to Blair Drummond Safari Park.
When the dolphinarium closed in 1984 the site was redeveloped as a funfair called "Mr Marvel's Theme Park" which closed in the early 1990's.
Currently the site is undeveloped.
Seaburn Ocean World
Sea burn Ocean World, Sea burn Ocean Park, Rocker, Sunderland.
Owner: Sea burn Ocean Park Ltd, Roker, Sunderland. (Mr Nolan).
Open: 1974 only.
The main pool was 12.80 x 7.32 x 3.05 m deep and the isolation pool 9.14 x 6.10 x 1.22 m deep. Ms Robin and Mr F. Rendell trained here.
Skegness Dolphinarium
Skegness Dolphinarium, Tower Parade, Skegness, Lincolnshire.
Owned: Mr Franklin (Margate).
Opened: Whitsun 1972 (another source says 1968). Closed: 1977 or 1978.
A temporary outdoor exhibit with a partly sunken 9.14 m diameter 2.13 - 2.44 m deep plastic lined pool. The show was said to have had a full commentary, which could be pitched to requirements, with biological facts as well as general material (Williamson and Schomberg, 1976).Southend-On-Sea Dolphinarium
Southend-on-Sea Dolphinarium, adjoining the Pier, Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
Owner: Mr L. D. Holloway, Cliftonville, Margate.
Dolphins: Mr Franklin (Margate).
Opened: 1971. Closed: 1975?.
An outdoor exhibit, with a 10.70 m diameter, 2.13-2.44 m deep plastic lined sunken pool. Open for about 10 weeks in summer, with dolphins wintering at Margate, at winter shows in the UK and abroad or exported. Williamson and Schomberg (1976) report that an educational lecture was available on request. Mr Holloway and Mr Franklin are noted as trainers in 1974.Southsea Dolphinarium (Portsmouth)
Owner: Pleasurama.
Dolphins: Flamingo.
Open: 1972 and 1973 only ?
Trainer: Mr K. Reany.
An outdoor exhibit on the sea front with a 9.14 m diameter, 3.05 m deep plastic lined steel tank above ground level. The 1973 dolphins were brought from Flamingo to Southampton by train and then travelled by road to Southsea. These animals then went to Windsor.West Midlands Safari Park
West Midland Safari Park, Spring Grove, Bewdley, Worcester.
Owner: Mr Jimmy Chipperfield; leased by American Ccmpany about 1976.
Opened: 1973.
Dolphinarium: probably only summers 1976 and 1977.
Dolphins: Franklin/Holloway (Margate).Weymouth Dolphinarium
Windsor Safari Park
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The video shows the moving of Nemo from Clacton to Windsor.
Windsor Safari Park Ltd, Winkfield Road, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 4AY.
Owner: Windsor Safari Park Ltd, a subsidiary of Southbrook and City Holdings Ltd.
Managing Director: Mr A. Haworth-Booth.
General Manager: Mr T. Nutkins.
Curator: Mr R. F. Rendell.
Senior Warden in Charge of Dolphinarium: Mr D. Lindsay.
Trainers: Ms A. Redknap, BSc, Mr W.R. Prickett, Mr P. Lanehart, Mr P. C. Witts, Mr D. Beasley.
Education Officer: Ms S. Goldswain.
Assistant Education Officer: Ms J. Covering, L1B, BEd.
Submission prepared by Mr S. G. Brown, BSc, MSc.
Veterinary Care: Mr A. G. Greenwood, MA, VetMB, MRCVS; Mr D. C. Taylor, BVMS, FRCVS.
Pools: A: rectangular display pool 26.0 x 14.0 x 3.5 m deep with four timber holding pens 2.6 x 3.5 x 1.5 m deep included. Two underwater viewing panels, under cover.
B: pear shaped back pool, partly above ground,
with seven underwater viewing panels
(not under cover) and a
bridge at one end for public viewing.
Connected to the main complex by a channel.
Maximum length 26.0 m, maximum width 12.5 m, 3.5 m deep.
C: rectangular whale holding pool, adjacent to main pool and connected to it. Screened from the public but open air. 7.6 x 7.6 x 3.0 m deep.
Approximate surface areas: A: 315 m2 (ex. holding pools); B: 218 m2 ; C: 58 m2 ;
Total: 640 m2 (inc. holding pools).
Outdoor, salt mix water.
Animals: 2 male, 3 female (one pregnant at end 1985) adult bottlenose dolphins, 2 male bottlenose dolphin calves, 2 killer whales (male and female).
The dolphins and female killer whale are owned by Windsor Safari Park Ltd; the male killer whale is owned by International Animal Exchange, and housed at Windsor at the request of the Department of the Environment.
History
The Windsor Safari Park was founded and developed by the Billy Smart Organisation in 1969 and was officially opened in 1970, by HRH Princess Margaret. The Park was sold to Trident Television in June 1977 and bought by Southbrook and City Holdings Ltd in December 1983, who continue to be the holding company.
In 1965, when 30 pilot whales were spotted in the Thames, Billy Smart and others (probably including Flamingo staff) organised a catching expedition. Mr John Sadler, who later became the first dolphin trainer at Windsor, spent five days and £ 1,000 trying to catch animals for display until notified by the police that whale catching in the Thames was illegal (Adams, 1972). The whale sighting is not noted in the British Museum (Natural History) records, but the story has been confirmed from several independent sources, including Mr G. Smart.
Taylor (1982) describes how he and Mr G. Smart went to Malta to rescue two baby pilot whales which had spent three days on a fishmongers slab. The animals were treated and kept in a swimming pool, with the intention of taking them back to Windsor. Smart and Taylor went to make arrangements but on return found the animals very ill from sunburn. The local people caring for the animals had been told to keep them out of the sun, but had decided that since the animals seemed to prefer sun to shade, a covering of sun tan oil would provide sufficient protection and let them out. The animals were covered in infected blisters and died shortly after.
The first four bottlenose dolphins, including Smartie who is still alive at Windsor, arrived in July 1969. Mr R. Bloom, who designed the original pool (areas A and C), assisted with the catching in Florida. Two more dolphins arrived in March 1970, including Honey who is still alive. One of the original group died in November 1970, after ingesting a plastic bag. The first killer whale, Ramu III arrived in September 1970. No other species, except bottlenose dolphins and killer whales, have been kept at Windsor, although a pilot whale, Hummer, was to have been part of the exchange when Ramu went to Sea World, California in 1976. The plan was not completed because Hummer was not well enough to travel at the time. A feasibility study was made by Mr Sadler and others, of the Faroes pilot whale fishery in 1976, but there was no possibility of obtaining animals for display from this source.
Present
In the changes of ownership, animal records at Windsor appear to have gone astray. The list was compiled from several sources, including the personal records of Mr G. Smart. The history of Smartie and Honey is described above. Lulu is one of two females brought to Flamingo in December 1971. This pair performed at Southsea in the summer of 1972 and came to Windsor in the autumn. Angie was previously in captivity at Sea World, San Diego and arrived in 1977 with two other dolphins in exchange for Ramu. Prince came from the Texas coast in 1980. He previously performed in summer at Scarborough. Juno was born to Lulu and Smartie in 1984. Neptune was born to Honey and Smartie in 1985. Angie is currently pregnant by Smartie. Winnie, the female killer whale, was caught off Iceland in 1977. She arrived in March 1978, having spent the winter at Harderwijk, the Netherlands. Nemo, the male killer whale, was caught off Iceland in 1981 and initially kept at Clacton. He was brought to Windsor in June 1985. Recreational swimming with the dolphins is in general not allowed although exceptions may be made in special circumstances. Arrangements have been made for handicapped, disabled and other special groups to meet the dolphins.
Visitor attendance in 1983-84 was 525,000, in 1984-85 550,000 and about 700,000 are expected in 1985-86, for the whole park. The Safari Park and dolphinarium are open throughout the year. Besides the dolphin and killer whale displays, there are sea lion displays (in the dolphin pool), parrot displays, birds of prey displays and previously in summer, high diving and clown acts (in the dolphin pool).
The back pool (pool B), with its own water treatment equipment, was built in 1978. This pool can also be operated together with the rest of the complex. All three pools can be separately drained. Windsor have recently installed new chlorination equipment and are currently reconditioning the filtration equipment for the main pool. A new splash barrier is to be erected at the main pool and the back pool wall was raised 12 months ago.
Relevant staff
Mr Haworth-Booth was Chief Executive of African Lion Safari Group in Australia for 10 years; the park at Warragamba has a dolphinarium which is described in the Australian Senate Select Committee Report (Australia, 1985).
Mr Nutkins was appointed Assistant General Manageof a Pleasurama dolphinarium in 1968 and was later involved wth their Oxford Street establishment. From 1970 to 1983 he was General Manager of the four Trust Houses Forte dolphinaria. He joined Windsor in 1985.
Mr Rendell began his career with captive cetaceans as a trainee at Flamingo in 1965 and was Curator when he left in 1970 to take over the Coventry dolphinarium. He also worked with Mr Nolan at South Shields. Mr Rendell came to Windsor as Curator in 1974 and is responsible for the entire animal collection. Mr Lindsay, the Senior Warden in charge of the dolphinarium, came to Windsor in 1979 and has worked with the cetaceans since 1980. He spent the 1982 season at Morecambe on secondment. He has passed the first two parts of the ZSL Animal Management Course and part of the City and Guilds course. He is a member of the Association of British Wild Animal Keepers, and of the International Marine Animals Trainers Association.
Ms Redknap worked at Windsor on a voluntary basis from 1982-83 and was then taken on to the permanent staff of the dolphinarium. Her degree is in Life Sciences and her previous experience is as a veterinary nurse.
Mr Witts, the show co-ordinator, joined the staff in 1985. His previous experience was in business and his other interests are theatrical.
Mr Lanehart joined the staff in 1983. He also presents the parrot show.
Mr Prickett and Mr Beasley joined in August 1985. Both are trainees on probation. Casual staff, including students and work experience people, assist during the summer. In 1985 six people worked at the dolphinarium at different times, under the supervision of the staff.
It is general policy to train the Park's own dolphinarium staff. Keepers may transfer from other animal sections and this is encouraged to provide a broader background in animal husbandry. Staff are encouraged to take additional training, for example the ZSL courses, as well as to belong to professional associations. Besides training in all aspects of marine mammal husbandry and general animal welfare, staff are trained in show presentation and public relations. They are encouraged to visit other establishments and to attend professional meetings.
Future
A large new pool for killer whales is planned, with maximum length 50 m and maximum width 22 m. The two holding pools will be 15 m in diameter. Unfortunately, the 'scale' drawings in the submission were not to scale and gave no information on proposed depths. Greenpeace workers report that the outline plans for the pool give one area 7 x 17 x 10 m deep with the rest of the main pool 3 m deep. The holding pools are planned to be 4 m deep. It is hoped to establish a breeding group of killer whales and to acquire a second female to form a more balanced group.
Whipsnade Zoo
The Water Mammals Exhibit, The Zoological Society of London, Whipsnade Park, Dunstable, Beds. LU6 2LF.
Owner: The Zoological Society of London (Registered scientific and educational charity, with zoological gardens at Regent's Park, London and at Whipsnade).
President: Sir William Henderson, FRS.
Secretary: Dr R. M. Laws, CBE, FRS.
Treasurer: The Rt. Hon. Lord Peyton of Yeovil.,
Whipsnade:
Curator: Mr V. J. A. Manton, MRCVS, FIBiol.
Park Manager: Mr 0. Chamberlain.
Senior Overseer: Mr J. Stanbridge. Overseer: Mr J. Datlen.
Present dolphinarium staff: Mr L. Radford, Senior Keeper; Ms M. Sudder, Ms J. Crabtree, Ms C. A. Bird.
Education Officer: Mr Ricketts.
Veterinary Care: Mr Manton, Mr R. Kock, MA, VetMB, MRCVS.
Pools: A: roughly boomerang-shaped outdoor pool;
max. length 19.0 m, max. width 5.0 m, 3.4 m deep.
B: trapezium-shaped indoor pool;
max. length 13.0 m, max. width 5.0 m, 3.4 m deep.
C: rectangular indoor isolation pool with stranding shelf;
6.0 x 4.8 m; shelf 4.8 m x 2.0 m x 1.0 m deep, rest 2.5 m deep.
Surface areas approx. 95, 65, 20 m2 ; total 180 m2 All pools can be operated and drained separately. Partly indoor, salt mix water.
Animals: 1 male and 1 female bottlenose dolphins. Owned by the Zoological Society of London.
History
The Zoological Society of London (ZLS) was founded in 1826, with the intention of establishing a collection of animals in London for the advancement of zoology and animal physiology and the introduction of new and curious subjects of the animal kingdom. The zoological gardens at Regent's Park were opened in 1828. In the 1860's, Mr A. D. Bartlett, the Superintendent, and Mr Frank Buckland made several efforts to keep net-caught harbour porpoises at Regent's Park. (14 arrived, 3 died before collection; none lived very long.) There was also, apparently, a whale pool constructed at Regent's Park to receive a white whale from north America which had been promised (Blunt, 1976: Buckland, 1866). It is unlikely that any white whale arrived at this time since Lee (1878) makes no mention of it in his review.
The ZLS acquired Whipsnade Park in 1927 and it was opened to the public in 1931. It was conceived as the first 'open' zoo, where the animals could roam in large open-air enclosures.
Present
The Society has always exhibited a wide range of species and in the early 1970's it was decided that a representative of the Order Cetacea would enhance the educational value of their collection. A small unit was opened in May 1972, after extensive consultations with other establishments to determine the requirements for 'best practice' of the day. It was intended to be the beginning of a complex showing members of the Order (Manton, 1974), but no further development of the exhibit had been carried out by the end of 1985.
One of the first three dolphins died within a few days of arrival. Two more arrived in the autumn of 1972. In 1984 a calf was born to Nina, who had arrived in 1978, which lived for just under a month. The present male, Samson, came from the Texas coast in 1978. The female, Lady, was taken in the same area in 1980. She was previously at Windsor, performing at Scarborough in summer, and was bought by the ZLS in July 1985.
Whipsnade, uniquely for the UK, have complete records of their animals for the time they lived in the park and a complete set of keepers' logbooks, which have provided data for several research projects (see Research section). Recreational swimming with the dolphins is not allowed and staff usually only enter the pool for maintenance reasons. The park is open throughout the year, with dolphin displays in summer. Training sessions take place in winter, without commentary, which are advertised in the park in the same way as summer show times. Visitors may enter the underwater viewing and outdoor pool areas at any time. The indoor pool area is closed for an hour at lunch time, but otherwise freely open to the public.
The indoor pool at Whipsnade has three large underwater viewing windows under cover. The filtration plant can also be seen on the other side of the viewing corridor.
Extensive repairs to the roof of the indoor pools were in progress in the autumn of 1985.
Relevant staff
Mr Manton has been involved with the dolphinarium from the beginning. His interest has resulted in papers on the principles of water treatment and on nutrition (Manton, 1974; 1975). Mr Manton has been an editor of Aquatic Mammals since 1972 and sole editor since 1985. He is a member of the board of the EAAM at present but has served in several capacities in the past, including Secretary. With Mr Kock, he provides the veterinary care for the dolphins and conducts post mortem examinations.
Mr Datlen, the Overseer, set up the dolphinarium when he was a Head Keeper.
Mr Radford, a Senior Keeper, is in charge of the dolphinarium at present. His research project for the Advanced Course in Animal Management was on the food intake of the dolphins.
Ms Sudder (Qualified Keeper), Ms Crabtree (Unqualified Keeper) and Ms Bird (Menagerie Helper) also care for the dolphins, train and present shows.
Two staff are on duty at the dolphinarium each day. Mr Datlen and Ms Sharpe (formerly at the dolphinarium, now at the Childress' Zoo) are also available to provide cover if required.
Staff appointment and training
The ZLS have a policy of taking on staff for the institution in general. After appointment they may be assigned to any section and may be moved at any time. The dolphinarium staff have the same status and conditions as any other staff. Appointments may be made in the first instance at the age of 16 to Menagerie Helper, with a six month probation. Promotion to Unqualified Keeper may take place at 21, but carries no pay increase, being a recognition of competence only. By this time, the first part of the ZLS Animal Management Course will have been passed. The course is run in conjunction with Paddington Technical College. Senior zoo staff act as tutors for specific subject areas. Staff over 21 on appointment become Unqualified Keepers but are barred from further promotion until the ZSL course is passed.
There are two steps for promotion to Qualified Keeper. Staff must have served 5 years under 21 or 2 years over 21, or a combination of either. They must also pass the Ordinary level of the ZSL Animal Management Course. This includes practical assessments, written and oral examinations. The practical assessment extends over two years with senior staff reporting on the candidates' timekeeping, reliability, initiative, conduct, practical skills with the animals and public relations abilities. After four years as Qualified Keeper there is a pay increment. After another three years staff may be appointed to Senior Keeper. This requires the Advanced Course to be passed, which includes a research project. The different stages in the staff training programme represent personal promotions and do not necessarily entail extra responsibility. The senior staff (Head Keepers and above) are promoted from among the Senior Keepers.
The ZSL Animal Management Courses (and the similar National Extension College postal Animal Management Course for City and Guilds examinations) are intended to train students in all aspects of animal management and modern zoo practice, although there is provision for some specialization in the later stages. The Society is unable, for financia~reasons, to support travel for keeping staff to other establishments or to professional meetings.
Future
Whipsnade would like to build a large breeding complex, stocked with animals of appropriate age from the same wild social group, near the existing dolphinarium, retaining the old pool for performances.
Woburn Safari Park
Woburn Wild Animal Kingdom Ltd, Woburn, Bedfordshire.
Owners: The Marquis of Tavistock and the Chipperfield Organisation.
Opened: 1970.
Dolphinarium: 1971 - end 1983. Trust Houses Forte, on contract.
The rectangular indoor pool was 13.70 x 7.62 x 3.96 m deep, with a holding pool 3.05 x 3.05 x 2.13 m deep.
The Chipperfield Organisation also run Longleat (which never had a dolphinarium) and Blair Drummond. The Blair Drummond dolphins were supplied by Mr. Chipperfield, Mr D. Robinson, Scarborough, and later by Trust Houses Forte. Woburn was the main wintering pool for the Trust Houses Forte dolphins in later years.
Woburn would like to return to keeping dolphins as there is great public demand and visitor numbers decline if none are displayed. A sub-contract or purchase would be considered, but the main aim would be to keep the animals properly. The pool would be rebuilt if necessary and experienced staff taken on. Mr Cattle, the current sea lion trainer, is also experienced with dolphins, having worked at Hagenbeck's in Germany.
When dolphins were displayed, the show and script were the responsibility of the trainers. The park guide used to contain dolphin information. Educational materials are provided for visiting schools, relating to existing animals. Currently about 350,000 people visit Woburn each year. About two thirds of the coach parties are schools, giving about 1,000 parties a year from about a 60 mile radius. The park (and dolphinarium in its day) is open between mid-March and the end of October.
The animals at Woburn are available for research. No projects were done on the dolphins, but the monkeys and lions have been the subject of student theses. Some staff have completed projects as part of the City and Guilds Animal Management Courses. Facilities and sponsorship are offered to staff. Reserve staff from Kenya and Uganda have been trained at Woburn in the handling of wild animals in the open. Advice has also been given on the building of a wildlife sanctuary in Zambia. Woburn regards itself as a centre of expertise in the handling of large wild animals.
On 17.3.79 a whitebeaked dolphin, stranded at Spurn Head, was rescued. It died on 18.3.79. Dobbs (1981) mentions his involvement with this animal, which he describes as a whitesided dolphin, although the photographs show it to be a whitebeaked dolphin.
Worthing
Swimming pool.
Dolphins: Seamark (Mr R. Bloom and Brighton).
Open: late 1979 - mid 1980 ?
Worthing was only used to house one shipment of dolphins. There were no shows, but a charge was made to view the animals. This batch of dolphins, from Hong Kong, where they had been held for some months, were to have gone to Clacton, before moving to permanent homes. However, the pier was damaged by a storm and the accommodation at Worthing found at short notice.
Major Players in the UK Dolphinarium Scene
Jervale Ltd
Marine Mammals International
Owned and operated dolphin shows in Battersea, Porthcawl and for one summer Blackpool. Also supplied dolphins for Royalty Folies.
Scotia Investments
Trust Houses Forte (Entam)
Aquatic Mammal Enterprises
This company was based in Key Largo, Florida, USA and was owned by Charlie and Leigh Riggs. They supplied the dolphins for the movie "Day of the Dolphins". In 1974 the Riggs' brought 4 dolphins to the UK (Max, Leigh, Little Charlie and Peewee) who were intially housed at Margate and then spent the summer split between Cleethorpes, Sandown and Brean Down before they all went back to the US in 1975.
The UK housed a large collection of dolphinariums from the early 1960s to 1991 when the last one (located at Windsor Safari Park) closed its gates. The reasons that these closed are varied but the main problem was that a scientific report ordered by the government and writtem by Klinowski et al. recommended mnimum sizes for main pools that was endorsed and put into place by the government. As a result ALL dolphinariums in the UK fell foul of these minimum guidleines. All dolphinariums were given 10 years to bring the pools up to the minimum guidelines but all failed to do so.
By 1991 there were only three facilities still in operation. The largest and arguably best of these was Windsor whose owner went into administration. Ironically the Safari Park and dolphinarium were the only part of the organisation that was making a profit at the time (see the page under W for full details).
The reasons are again varied: lack of money was the main one. It would have cost Windsor over £500,000 to invest in new pool facilities, which ws a vast amount of money at that time. The second major reason was the animal rights movement who at that time were very vocal (and in some cases rightly justified) in regards to the keeping of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) in captivity, specifically in regards to the sizes of certain pools and premature deaths in captivity.
One of the disappointing aspects of dolphinaria at this time was the lack of foresight involved in the planning and execution. It seemed to be a case of "theres a pool with water lets bung in a dolphin or two". This wasn't the case and there were many people who only had the welfare of the animals at heart but the problem remained that most pools were very small and although the animals appeared happy and healthy a shift in the perceptions of the public rapidly made them outdated.
Another aspect that was incredibly cynical and to me personally plain wrong were the large numbers of touring and seasonal dolphinaria that sprang up from time to time in various seaside towns. The water also becomes muddy when ownership of these dolphinaria is looked into. Quite often the dolphins were owned by a company that had static dolphinaria and sent animals to other places (either in plastic/steel pools built at the location or in swimming pools converted for their use) that were run by a third party. On other occassions the animals and pools were owned and operated by the same people.
As you will note a number of dolphinariums were established in zoos and safari parks but were run as a separate entity by the owners of the dolphins. This is where I think the zoo community dropped the ball. In my view they should have owned the animals and operated the dolphinariums themselves. They would then have been able to move with the times (as they have done many times before and since) and dolphinariums would still be in existence in the UK today.
Lets move on to a couple of statements that everyone knows to be true:
1. It is now illegal to keep dolphins or whales in captivity in the UK. This statement is FALSE. The report actually states that the keeping of cetaceans in captivity is actully a GOOD idea. The reasons given are that as a flagship species they allow people to learn about marine conservation and shows bring people an idea of the intelligence of cetaceans. The report also says that dolphin shows are good for the species involved for the same reasons. The only reasons that there are no dolphinariums currently in the UK are simply the cost of building a worl class exhibit that meets (and beats) the minimum guidelines and the backlash anticipated from the animal rights movements.
2. Cetaceans die in captivity at an unusually early age. Again this is FALSE. This may have been true in the very early 60's and early 70s but is no longer the case. In fact recent studies have shown that there are now fewer premature deaths in captivity than you would expect in the wild. In addition most animals now reach the equivalent age (or older) at death as their wild counterparts.
In short there is no scientific or legal grounds as to why there are no dolphinariums currently in the UK. Without further ado below you will find as complete a listing as possible of dolphinariums that existed in the UK until 1993. Where possible I have included images (thanks to John Dineley of www.marineanimalwelfare.com for allowing me to use hs images) of the dolphinariums and if I can images of the same facilites now.
Alpahbetical List Of UK Dolphinariums
Animal Training School and Dolphinarium, South Elmsal (1972-1974)
Animal Training School and Dolphinarium, South Elmsall, near Wakefield. Owned by Mr John Nolan and his wife under the compamy name of Jervale Ltd. Thje training school was a former swimming baths that opened in 1932 and had been converted. Although not actually open to the public they were occassionally admitted.
Initially used to house 8 dolphins that were caught and transported from the USA in 1973. In 1974 when the facility closed the animals were relocated to Ocean Park, Seaburn and then 4 of them were sent on to Flamingo Park in 1975 (both of these dolphinariums were run by Jervale).
The extent of the facility as a whole is unknown but some documents suggest that more than 34 dolphins were shipped to the school, however other documents state that nowhere near that number were actually sent to the school.When the school closed there were only 6 animals.
Associated Pleasure Parks (Touring)(off and on from 1966 to roughly 1970)
Based at Flamingo Park. In about 1966 three dolphins were exhibited in old tram sheds (Queens Hall) in Leeds. Later on they moved to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
The Leeds pool was a circular plastic tank of roughly 3.66m in diameter (about 12') and 1.52m deep (about 5'). Records differ but either one or two dolphins were exhibited, trained by a Mr S. Gallagher and assisted by Mr P. Vodden. One of the dolphins was definitely male and died somewhere within this time.
1968 saw a dolphin called Simba (female) do a tour in the same area. This time the tank held 10,000 gallons of water.
Associated Pleasure Parks held at leasdt one more tour in 1970 with a dolphin called Mickey. Evidence relates that the tour was in Bournemouth in July 1970 and in Weymouth in September 1970. I have been unable to obtain any information of where they exhibited in 1969 or if they continued after 1970.
Battersea Park Dolphinarium (1st April 1971-1973)Owned and operated by Marine Mammals International which was run by a Mr Raber.
The dolphinariums address was: Battersea Dolphinarium, The Fun Fair, Battersea Park, London SW11. It must be made strictly clear that this enterprise had nothing to do with Battersea Park Zoo which was (and is) a completely separate entity.
The pool was a circular steel tank 9.72m in diameter (roughly 30') and 3.66m deep (roughly 12'). The pool had a tiled base for ease of cleaning and was located within a converted building in the middle of the funfair. As such it had to be artificially lit with no sunlight entering the building.
There were at least two (and quite probably yhree) resident dolphins although others may have been acclimatised her by Marine Mammals International before being sent to dolphinariums in Europe.
A severe fire ripped through the building in 1973 and althought the pool and the dolphins survived the building was unable to be repaired. As such the dolphins were relocated to Porthcawl.
Battersea, Touring(December 1972)
Oddly in light of the fact that dolphinarium was already in existence in Battersea Park, a touring dolphin show that was housed in a large tent or inflatable dome visited Battersea in December 1972.
Belle Vue Zoo, Manchester
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The above video doesn't show the dolphinarium but is a nice little video of the zoo in its heyday.
There were two zoos in Manchester the first from the early 1830's was owned by a Mr John Jennison at his family home, which initially was just his own collection of animals and which he later opened to the public. When the collection outgrew his home he moved the zoo.
This became the second Manchester Zoo which was more commonly known as Belle Vue Zoo Park (not to be confused with Belle Vue which is Belfast Zoo!). The address was: Belle Vue Zoo Park, Hyde Road, Manchester.
The zoo had various owners in its more than 140 year history: John Jennison (1836-1925), unknown (1925 to 197? (possibly 1973)) and finally Trust Houses Forte (which was formerly called Entam) (197? to the zoos closure in 1977, although the animals remained until rehoused in 1978).
In December 1972 Glasser (from Switzerland) brought a temporary dolphin show to the zoo which held two dolphins in a portable pool. This wasn't all that unusual as Belle Vue often had a circus with animal acts over the winter period right up until its closure.
Blackpool Dolphinarium (1969)On the Golden Mile and appears to have been between Central and North Pier and near to the tower.
Three bottlenose dolphins were brought from South Africa for a summer show in 1969, for one season. One animal died and the other two were exported to Malta. These animals visited other dolphinaria and were seen again in South Africa in the 1970's. One may have been the animal Maria (Speedy) which later visited Clacton and Sandown.
Their is some conflict as to who the dolphins belonged to. Some suggest Marine Mammals International, while others suggest a Mr Fletcher from South Africa. The dolphins were called Sinbad and Prontoand the other could have been Maria (AKA Speedy) who later appeared at Clacton and Sandown, Isle of Wight.One of the dolphins died while at Blackpool and the other two went on to appear at other dolphinaria in the UK and went back to South Africa (where they were seen at dolphin shows) in the 1970's.
Blair Drummond Safari Park (Seasonally (Summer only) Easter 1971 - October 1984)
n operation and is located at: Blair Drummond Safari Park by Stirling, Scotland. The Safari Park was opened in 1970 by the then owners Mr J Chipperfield (of Chipperfield Circus fame), Sir John Muir, Keir and Cawdor Estates.
The dolphinarium was only seasonal and ran in the summer between 1971 and 1984. The dolphins were owned at various times by Mr J Chipperfield, Trident Television (yes, really. the ITV station based in Scarborough), Trust Houses Forte (also known as Entam( and Mr Terry Nutkins (a disciple of Gavin Maxwell who would later find fame on the BBC children's programme "The Really Wild Show".) The show was operated by Scarborough Marineland and Zoo.
The dolphinarium was housed in what is known as a "free span" building. This basically means that the walls and ceiling support the structure and as such there is nothing between the walls obstructing the view (walls etc). The building was located near the restaurant and children's zoo. It had a plastic lined sunken pool that measured 15.24m (roughly 50') by 6.10m (roughly 18') and 3.05m deep (roughly 10') deep.
Trident Television (Scarborough) supplied the dolphins from about 1974 to 1978. Trust Houses Forte then supplied the dolphins from 1978-83and finally Terry Nutkins supplied the dolphins in 1984. There is no information about Mr Chipperfield's animals.
Some of the dolphins went uder the names 'Flipper' and 'Scottie' but were also known as Chemo and Jenkie. Mr Braithwaite, the trainer at the time, gave the life histories of Flipper (Chemo) and Scottie (Jenkie). The trainer was a Mr Braithwaite. When not on show they overwintered in Malta and Gibraltar (although at the end this was changed to Scarborough, presumably because of the expense.)
There is a suggestion that they were the same Flipper (male) and Jenkie (female) who performed at a dolphinarium in the winter season of 1976/1977. It was reported at the time that Jenkie was "pregnant" however this was a euphemism often used to explain an absence from the show (which could have meant death, sent to another facility, ill etc,). It was also reported that one of these dolphins died on the journey back to the UK.
The last two dolphins exhibited here were trained by a Ms Moore and were called Sooty and Clyde. When the dolphinarium closed in 1984 they to Knowsley along with Ms Moore.
The dolphinarium is still there but is now a sealion show.
Bradford (unknown)
This show was held in a swimming pool (presumably council owned). It was a purely seasonal show and only lasted for one season.
The owner of the dolphins (unknown names) was Mr Franklin (or Holloway) of Margate.
Brean Down Dolphinarium (11th July 1974 until 21st September 1974)
Was located at: Mid-Somerset Leisure Centre, Bream, Somerset.The owner was a Mr E Cowell from Devon, however the dolphins were leased from the owners and trainers Mr C Riggs and Miss L Hradek of Margate.
Two dolphins arived on the 11th July 1974 from Margate. Presumably the idea was to be a long standing arrangement however the dolphins were removed from the premises by their owners on the 21st September 1974 amid allegations over the standard of care and suitability of the facilities the dolphins were under.
Brighton Aquarium and Dolphinarium (1968 -1992)
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The above video shows dolphins in Flamingo Park but the exterior shows Brighton Aquarium and Dolphinarium from the film "Fruit Machine" from 1988.
Housed at: Brighton Aquarium and Dolphinarium, Marine Parade/Madiera Drive, Brighton BN2 1TB, Sussex, and owned by Aquarium Entertainments Ltd.
The aquarium was built in 1862 and was officially opened by HRH Prince Arthur in 1872. The aquarium was redesigned in 1927 and in 1935 all records relating to the aquarium to that point were lost in "the Great Storm".
Prior to the dolphinarium as we know it there had been a few previous attempts at keeping cetaceans at the aquarium: prior to 1876 they hadattempted to keep net entangled harbour porpoises and certainly by 1914 there had been a birth to one of these animals. In fact this appears to be the first successful cetacean birth in captivity.
There are also references to keeping a white whale with some success after 1878 (presumably a beluga).
Run by Brighton Corporation until 1955 it was leased from them by Aquarium Entertainments Ltd under the directorship of Mr F C Glover and Mr E E Sander. In 1968 a new pool was built to house two dolphins who were shipped from Miami. This pool is now used by sealions.
In 1969 a larger pool was constructed (which is the current sealion pool). Following a competition the dophins were renamed Prinny and Belle and were moved to the new pool in April 1969.
Four more dolphins were due to move into the pool at the same time but were delayed due to an airline strike and moved in later. This made the total number of dolphins to 6, however only four performed in shows due to the fact that one of the females (Missus) had a calf called Baby (later renamed as Missie). These last two were rescued stranded dolphins and were kept apart from the others in the smaller original pool.
In 1977 in conjunction with Scarborough the decision was made to import six new dolphins from Mexico. Only five could be bought at that time and they were shipped to the UK. However they became chilled on the way over and subsequently became ill. Four of them later died. The remaining animal made a full recovery and was sent to Scarborough.
In 1979, in association with Mr R Bloom, a group of six dolphins were purchased from Ocean Park , Hong Kong after originally being capture in Taiwan.They had already had a period of time to acclimatise to captivity. They were meant to go to Clacton but the pier was damaged in a storm. They were temporarily housed in a converted swimming pool in Worthing. Two of these animals were sent to Brighton (Connie and Bertie) and the rest were exported, presumably to Europe.
Silver (a male) arrived from Ocean Park, Hong Kong in 1978; Poppy arived in 1972 and gave birth to a baby in 1981, which sadly only survived for three weeks;Soukie is the baby of Silver and Missieand was born in September 1985.
The head trainers were: Mr M Lester and Mr R Newton assisted by Ms A Karas, Mr Z Scott, Ms N Dancey and Ms M Leach.Veterinary services were provided by Mr P. B. Clarke, BVSc, MRCVS. Consultants to the aquarium were:Mr A. G. Greenwood, MA, VetMB, MRCVS; Mr D. C. Taylor, BVMS, FRCVS (both of whom were partners in the International Zoo Veterinary Group); Mr V. J. A. Manton, MRCVS, FIBiol; Mr D. M. Jones, BSc, BVetMed, MRCVS, FIBiol. Mr Nutkins and Mr Tiebor were also approached for advice in connection with dolphin births at the aquarium.
There were two pools. The main pool was an elongated octagon measuring 22m (roughly 70') by 9.2m (about 28') and 3m deep (about 9 1/2') witha surface area of 175m2. There was also a trapezium shaped holding pool with a surface area of 55m2 and 3m deep. The holding pool was filtered separately to the main pool but could not be emptied without emptying the main pool. Total surface area of the combined pools was about 230m2. The pool was indoor and used natural seawater (i.e. pumped in from the sea). The main pool had 20 1m x 1m viewing windows and was lined with glass-fibre and painted with sea plants.
The pool was the only one in the UK to have "brushes" on the bottom as enrichment for the animals. The holding pool whern not in use was left open for the animals to use as they wished.
Visitor numbers were as follows: 305,500 in 1983; 278,200 in 1984 and 298,750 in 1985.Due to extensive repair work in 1982-83 the dolphins were moved to a converted swimming pool in Brighton. Later on the entrance to the holding pool was altered only this time without removing the animals.
At one point it was planned that there would be an expansion of the complex to include a breeding and rearing pool as well as quarantine and isolation pools. It was suggested that this would double the water surface area.
Bristol (1974)
Housed in a converted swimming pool. The dolphins were owned by Trust Houses Forte (Terry Nutkins). This was a one off Christmas show with animals from Woburn. There are anecdotes that there were other shows at other times and other years but nothing can be substantiated.
Chipperfields (unknown dates)
The dolphins were owned by Mr Chipperfield from Coventry. The dolphins were moved at least onece in order to perform in Weymouth and possibly other locations.
Clacton Pier Dolphinarium
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This video shows the dolphin show at Clacton Pier in 1973.
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Nemo and Neptune the killer whales at Clacton in 1983.
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Nemo Show Pt 1 from 1983
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Nemo Show Pt 2 from 1983
North Sea World Training Dolphins School, The Pier, Clacton- on Sea, Essex.
Owner: Mr R. Bloom.
Opened: 1971. Closed: summer 1985 (Possibly also closed between 1979 and 1981).
Outdoor, former swimming pool, 32.20 x 19.30 m; depth at centre 3.20 m sloping to 2.40 m at either side, with a holding pool 10.67 m2 included. Guided tours and lectures are mentioned by Williamson and Schoenberg (1976) and there was a natural history exhibit. This was a training establishment, with a number of animals passing through. The main residents were the bottlenose dolphins, Bubbles and Squeak, and most recently the three young killer whales. The last animal, Nemo, was moved to Windsor in the summer of 1985. Mr Bloom also obtained and transported animals for other owners. There was a strandings rescue service. Donaldson (1976) carried out studies on the use of the tongue and the sense of taste, with Bubbles and Squeak. A dolphin, Echo, was loaned to F. Hussain of King's College, University of London in 1972. The animal was to have been taken to King's for research on intelligence and communication, but the transfer was not completed.Cleethorpes Zoo and Marineland
Cleethorpes Marineland and Zoo, Humberston, Lincolnshire.
Owner: the same as Flamingo, probably throughout. 1974 Scotia Pleasure Parks Ltd.
Opened: 1965. Closed: 1976 ? (summers only).
The dolphin pool was outdoor, polygonal, fibre-glass lined, about 12.19 m across and 2.44 m deep. There is no information on any additional accommodation for the other species kept. Animals wintered at Flamingo, and may also have participated in winter shows elsewhere. There was much movement between the establishments in the group and it is very difficult to establish which were 'Cleethorpes' animals - if there were such. It is possible that available animals performed as required. Cleethorpes may also have been used for holding animals outside the summer season. Taylor (1976) mentions an artificial insemination attempt between the killer whales Calypso of Cleethorpes and Cuddles of Flamingo. A white whale was kept here briefly, and possible also a pilot whale. Trainers: Mr J. Dudley and Mr F. Rendell.Coventry Zoo Dolphinarium
Coventry Zoo Park, Whitley Common, (or London Road), Coventry, Warwickshire.
Owner: Mr W. Chipperfield.
Opened: 1966.
Dolphinarium: Easter 1971 - May 1975.
The 12.19 m diameter, 4.27 m deep sunken pool was housed in a circular plastic dome structure. The fish preparation facilities are said to have been inadequate. Mr W. Chipperfield, related to, but not associated with Chipperfield Organisation or Chipperfield's Circus, operated the Coventry Zoo. The two dolphins were exported to Hagenbeck's, Germany in 1975. Trainers: Mr F. Rendell, Ms Robin; 1974 Mrs Chipperfield.
Dudley Zoo
Dudley Zoo, Castle Hill, Dudley, Warwickshire.
Owners: Dudley Zoological Society Ltd (The Earl of Dudley and Mr E. E. Marsh); Scotia Investments Ltd 1971-1978; Dudley and West Midlands Zoological Society (charitable trust, jointly administered by Bristol Zoo and Dudley local authority).
Opened: 1937.
Dolphinarium: May 1971 to April 1974 or 1975.
The outdoor whale and dolphin pools were adapted from sea-lion pools in the castle moat. The roughly pear-shaped whale pool was about 15.24 x 6.1-10.67 x 3.66 m deep and the adjoining dolphin pool larger, but shallower, only one part being 3.05 m deep. The dolphins wintered at Flamingo; the killer whale may have remained. Dolphins may have been present in 1975. The female bottlenose dolphin, Winkie, from Scarborough was to have performed at the opening, but she died earlier at Scarborough.Flamingo Park Zoo (AKA Flamingoland)
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The above video shows the dolphins at Flamingo Park however the exteriors show Brighton Aquarium and Dolphinarium.
The Dolphinarium at Flamingo Land Ltd, Kirby Misperton, Nr Malton, North Yorkshire.
Flamingo Land Ltd is a private corporation owned and directed by Mr A. Gibb.
General Manager: Mr T. Pullen.
Dolphinarium Manager and Head Trainer: Mr P. Bloom, BSc.
Trainer: Mr C. Wright, BSc.
Veterinary care: Dr J. Sweeney, VMD, (USA); Mr A. G. Greenwood, MA, VetMB, MRCVS; Mr D. C. Taylor, BVMS, FRCVS.
Pool: 'Figure of eight' shaped main pool; 24.38 m max. length, 2 x 12.19 m diameter, 3/4 pool 4.27 m deep, rest 2.74 m, surface area approx. 233 m2 .
Rectangular holding pool adjoining; 6.40 x 7.62 x 3.05 m deep, surface area 48.77 m2 , which can be operated separately. Total surface area approx. 282 m2
Partly indoor, salt mix water.
Animals: 3 female bottlenose dolphins.
Owned by Dolphin Services (Bloom UK), supplied under contract.
History
The zoological gardens at Kirby Misperton were founded by Mr Pentland Hick about 1959. Mr D. Robinson and others were in association. Until the present owners took over in 1978 the establishment was known as Flamingo Park. (We refer to the establishment as 'Flamingo', for simplicity.)
Flamingo was the first establishment in the UK to exhibit bottlenose dolphins. (The pair brought to the UK in 1962, from Italy, were intended for filming - see Plymouth, Former Dolphinaria section.) The first dolphins (Flipper and her one year old female calf, Cookie) arrived on 20.6.63, flown in from Florida, accompanied by Dr John C. Lilly. The animals are said to have cost £ 2,500 and their pool (with filtration, temperature control and artificial sea water) £ 2,000 (Adams, 1972). Two more dolphins arrived in 1964. Mr Hick formed Associated Pleasure Parks, which opened a second zoo at Cleethorpes, with a dolphin exhibit. These dolphins probably first came to Flamingo for training, establishing a pattern for the future. Until about 1974, animals for UK and European dolphinaria arrived at Flamingo for training before moving to other establishments. Some animals returned to Flamingo for the winter, and some of these took part in winter tours. Unfortunately, all records stored at Flamingo were taken by the Receiver when the penultimate owners, Scotia Pleasure Parks Ltd, ceased business.
Mr Hick was very adventurous, not only in transport methods, but also in his search for new species to exhibit. The first dolphins travelled by air, but one of the consignments in 1966 travelled by sea in open tanks on the deck of a boat. Mr Hick sent his people far and wide. Mr Rendell (see Windsor) went to Canada to obtain white whales. A very young animal 'Titchl was flown in from Vancouver in 1964. It was 6 feet long, weighed 135 lbs and had been found stranded by fishermen. The animal was only about seven months old and had to be bottle fed. It did not survive for long. In 1965, four white whales were sent by sea from Quebec, travelling in tanks on the deck of the liner Arcadia. Two were lost overboard in a storm when the tank failed, one died and the other was injured. The survivor and the dead animal were landed. The survivor was taken to Cleethorpes, but died of its injuries about September 1965.
This was not the first attempt to keep white whales in the UK. In 1877 a female, taken in May by seine-net in Labrador, was sent by ship to Montreal and by rail to New York, where she was kept in an aquarium at Coney Island. The animal was sent by sea to the UK, travelling in a box of wet seaweed and having water poured over her at frequent intervals day and night. The 2.74 m animal swam about the 12.19 x 6.10 x 1.83 m deep 45,000 gallon fresh water tank at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster and ate live eels soon after arrival in the September, but died of pneumonia on the fourth day. Mr Farini, the entrepreneur, then sent Mr Zach. Coup, the catcher who had taken and accompanied the white whale, to Lerwick in the Shetland islands in search of a pilot whale as a replacement. This expedition was frustrated by bad weather. However, on 18.5.1878 four more white whales left the USA by ship and arrived on 27.5.1878. One animal had died during a storm, but the other three were sent to Pomona Gardens, Manchester, to Blackpool and to the Royal Aquarium, Westminster. These animals had been caught in the same place as the first, by Mr Coup. No information has been found on the further history of these animals, although the Westminster specimen is described as 'soon making itself at home in its new quarters' (Lee, 1878).
Mr D. C. Taylor (at that time veterinarian-curator) was sent to Greenland in search of narwhal and even on an unlikely expedition to Pakistan to follow up an offer of pygmy sperm whales (the ordinary sperm whales were considered to be too large, even by Mr Hick). Taylor (1976) describes the Pakistan affair -a new-born pygmy sperm whale was seen eventually, in a pool at Karachi, but it had been killed by a 'banger' firework in the anus. There was no sign of the mother, or of any other members of the species. A pair of Adriatic common dolphins were imported from Riccione, Italy, in 1964/5, but they were very stressed by the journey and only lasted a few days.
A number of attempts to obtain pilot whales were made. Staff travelled to a live stranding in Scotland (not recorded in the British Museum (Natural History) records) but were unable to obtain animals because of opposition from local landlords. They may also have been involved in the attempt by Mr John Sadler, on behalf of Billy Smart, to catch pilot whales which strayed into the Thames in 1965 - see Windsor. Mr R. Bloom and Mr Rendell did bring a baby pilot whale back from the Faroes hunt in 1966. The animal was very young and died after a few days. Either Cleethorpes or Flamingo had another pilot whale, source unknown, in October 1964.
In 1966 a new pool, designed by Mr R. Bloom, was opened. It was extended to form the '8' shape it has today in 1968, for the reception of Cuddles, an 11 112 ft young male killer whale. The animal, which was thought at the time to be female, arrived from Seattle by air, accompanied by Mr D. C. Taylor. (Cuddles was moved to Dudley in 1971 and died there in 1974, just before he was due to move to his new home in Nice.) Taylor (1976) describes an unsuccessful artificial insemination attempt between Cuddles and the older female Calypso of Cleethorpes.
Besides the failure to obtain a wide range of cetacean species, Flamingo had some problems with the bottlenose dolphins. At least five pregnant animals arrived from the USA in September 1965. None of the young survived and one of the females was also lost. There was a stillbirth in 1966 (or possibly at Cleethorpes), and another birth in 1967. These would most likely all have been wild conceptions. (Movement of pregnant animals is today not approved by IATA and CITES regulations, except in emergency where the risks of not moving the animal outweigh the risk of travel - see Standards section.) In 1969 there was great excitement over the birth of a captive conceived calf to Moby and Dolly. According to press cuttings the calf lived for two weeks. This seems to be the first captive conceived birth in the UK.
However, financial problems arose and Mr Hick sold Flamingo to Scotia Pleasure Parks Ltd in 1969. From then until 1973, Flamingo and Cleethorpes were run together with Scarborough. Another dolphinarium was opened for the summer in about 1970, at Gwrych Castle in North Wales, but there were problems with the portable pool and Gwrych seems to have only been open for one or two seasons. In 1971 Scotia took over Dudley and moved dolphins and the killer whale, Cuddles, there. Flamingo sent two dolphins to Southsea by rail, for the 1973 summer season. This pair were then sold to Windsor, where one, Lulu, is still alive and gave birth to a surviving calf in 1984. Mr Robinson left Flamingo in December 1973. In March 1974 five dolphins were lost in 48 hours from hepatitis when structural failure allowed contaminated water into the main dolphin pool and water quality in the side pool, to which the animals had to be confined, became uncontrollable (see Welfare section). From about 1975-77 Mr Nolan supplied the Flamingo dolphins. The last three of these animals died from systemic candidiasis in 1976-77 when the water treatment system became contaminated with fungi (see Welfare section). The system was completely cleaned and partly renewed before three animals, provided by Margate, arrived for the 1978 summer season. No dolphins were exhibited between 1979 and 1984
Present
In about 1981, as a result of requests from visitors, preparations were made to house dolphins again. Renovations included a new filtration system, food storage and preparation areas, water testing laboratory, heating system, staff facilities and repairs to the building and seating. Animals were to be obtained, trained and managed by Mr R. Bloom on a sub-contract basis.
The pool was not quite ready in December 1983, and, as Mr Bloom's import permit was about to expire, the new animals were temporarily brought in to Knowsley. One of the three Flamingo animals died at Knowsley as did Knowsley's elderly male animal (see Welfare section). When the Flamingo pool was ready in February 1984, the two remaining Flamingo animals and the Knowsley female were moved together to Flamingo (see Knowsley for details).
The zoo and dolphinarium are closed in winter. In the colder months, the dolphins are kept mainly in the indoor area of the pool, which can be enclosed by sliding doors. The trainers reside in a caravan, adjacent to the dolphin pool, throughout the year and the animals are never left unattended. The animals are trained to retrieve foreign objects from the pool and present them to the trainer. Trainers regularly swim with the dolphins and recreational swimming with the animals is allowed, under the supervision of the trainers and at the participants' own risk. A class of 27 children recently swam with the animals for the television programme Jim'll Fix It.
The dolphins are the only animals in the Park managed by a sub-contract. This arrangement was made because of the specialised knowledge required. The Park provides the facilities and Dolphin Services (Bloom UK) provide the animals. On all matters to do with the welfare of the animals, the Head Trainer has authority. This includes the number of shows per day, although the Park management may make requests.
Relevant staff
Mr P. Bloom has a BSc in fishery science and eight years experience with dolphinaria. He has worked at Clacton, Windsor, Hong Kong, two dolphinaria in Spain and in Manila, the Philippines, (where he designed the pool, oversaw the construction, collected the dolphins from Taiwan and trained the animals and staff). Mr P. Bloom has a certificate of registration, Performing Animals Regulation 1975, from Essex County Council.
Mr C. Wright has four years experience with dolphins, at Clacton and Flamingo. At Flamingo he also has day-to-day responsibility for the aquarium in the underwater viewing area, which exhibits a small selection of North Sea fauna and flora, collected by staff and friends. He has a BSc in biological sciences, specializing in marine biology and environmental sciences.
Mr R. Bloom, with over 20 years experience in all aspects of dolphin husbandry and training, is available for consultation.
Dr Sweeney has instructed the staff in general health care and in his methods of training animals to present for medical examination.
Future Plans
There are no plans for expansion of the facilities at the moment. When the dolphins are of a suitable age, the owners would like to obtain a proven male, possibly on temporary loan, for breeding.Gwrych Castle Dolphinarium
Run by Scotia Investments for one season only in the early 1970's.
North Wales - near St Asaph.
Owner: Scotia (Flamingo).
Open: about 1970 for one or possibly two summers.
Dolphins: from Flamingo.
The free-standing, plastic lined, portable tank was said to leak, leaving the animals stranded. There were also said to be major filtration problems. Trainers: Mr B. Lyle and Ms D. Lyle.Knowsley Safari Park
Knowsley Safari Park, Prescot, Nr. Liverpool, Merseyside.
Owner: The Right Honourable, the Earl of Derby, MC. (private company).
Manager: Mr L. D. Tennant, MBE, MRCVS.
Head Trainer: Ms M. Moore. Trainee: Ms A. Langley.
Veterinary care: Mr A. G. Greenwood, MA, VetMB, MRCVS; Mr D. C. Taylor, BVMS, FRCVS.
Pool: Rectangular main pool; 15.24 x 7.62 x 3.96 m deep. 2 holding pools, 3.05 x 3.05 x 3.05 m deep, which can be isolated and emptied separately. Indoor, salt mix water.
Animals: 1 male and 1 female bottlenose dolphins.
History
In the early 19th century, the 13th Earl of Derby established a menagerie at Knowsley. He collected and bred rare and exotic species. The collection had 318 bird species and 94 species of other animals, as well as a museum. Edward Lear stayed at Knowsley and produced a series of bird and animal drawings, which are still in the library. Lear also entertained the Earl's grandchildren with the material later published as the 'Book of Nonsense' and other works.
Knowsley was opened to the public as a safari park in July 1971, after a partnership was formed between the 18th Earl and Mr Jimmy Chipperfield. The dolphin pool and building were completed and opened in June 1972 by Trust Houses Forte Leisure Ltd (at that time known as Entam). The operation was owned and controlled by Trust Houses Forte on a contract basis. This company also owned Rhyl and animals moved between Knowsley and Rhyl, wintering together at Knowsley. In later years animals wintered at Trust Houses Forte's Woburn establishment.
By 1975, the ex-Rhyl Flipper (Eccles) and Blodwyn were providing the summer show. After Blodwyn died at Woburn in January 1980, new animals were required. Mr Nutkins (see Windsor), at that time General Manager of Trust Houses Forte dolphinaria, decided to seek animals from the Far Eastern drive fisheries which would otherwise be slaughtered for human consumption, rather than American animals, which would otherwise not be disturbed. The Far Eastern fisheries are described by Hammond and Leatherwood (1984). Mr Nutkins and Mr D. C. Taylor accompanied Ocean Park (Hong Kong) personnel to Taiji, Japan in April 1980. The expedition was filmed for the BBC TV Animal Magic programme. Four animals were obtained, two remained at Ocean Park and two were brought to the UK. (No Taiji expedition at the right date is listed by Leatherwood and Hammond (1984), or by Kasuya, Tobayama and Matsui (1984).)
The two Japanese females (Sooty and Sabrina) performed with Flipper (Eccles) at Knowsley in summer 1980. However, Flipper (Eccles) fought with them and he was sold to Germany (Tiebor) at the end of the season. ('Fighting' is sometimes a euphemism for sexual activity disruptive to shows and embarrassing for presenters. Flipper (Eccles) was likely to have been mature by this time; having been captive for at least eight years he must have been ten or more years old.) Sabrina, who had never been very well, died at Woburn in October 1980. No dolphins performed at Knowsley in 1982, Sooty having gone to Blair Drummond with Clyde because his usual partner, Bonnie, had died in June 1982. Sooty and Clyde performed at Blair Drummond as 'Flipper' and 'Scottie'.
Trust Houses Forte gave up their contract with Knowsley at the beginning of 1983, because of the difficulty and expense of obtaining replacement dolphins. A new arrangement was made with Mr R. Bloom, who obtained a permit to import two dolphins from the USA. The first animal, Lindy (Lyndenburg), was a male who had been in Marineland, Palos Verdes, California for about 12 years and had become a social outcast within the group in one of their holding pools. He was captured off Florida in 1972. He arrived in March 1983, became ill with phlebitis about Christmas 1983 and died in February 1984 of liver failure (see Welfare section). A young female, Lottie (Charlotte), caught in March 1983 by Dr Sweeney off the Florida west coast, north of Charlotte Harbour, arrived in July 1983.
Mr Bloom had also obtained a permit to import dolphins to Flamingo at this time. Three young females, caught by Dr Sweeney off Charlotte Harbour, Florida, at the end of October 1983, were imported in December 1983 and brought to Knowsley because the pool at Flamingo was not quite ready and Mr Bloom's import permit ran out at the end of 1983. One of the three, Sybil, who had not been well since arrival, died of drowning and peritonitis in February 1984 (see Welfare section). Lottie was moved to Flamingo with the two remaining females in February 1984, rather than leave her alone at Knowsley. There was no dolphin display at Knowsley in the summer of 1984.
Present
In October 1984, Sooty and Clyde were brought to Knowsley from Blair Drummond. Mr Nutkins had purchased them from Trust Houses Forte when the company gave up their dolphin interests in 1983/4, to prevent the animals being sold abroad. Their trainer, Ms Moore, arrived with them. Clyde was caught in Florida in the late 1960's and moved to Beirut after a stay at Fort Lauderdale, USA. Mr R. Bloom brought him from Beirut to Oxford Street probably early in 1971. From about 1973 he went to Trust Houses Forte, performing at Rhyl and Blair Drummond. He wintered at Woburn and, possibly in the early years, at Knowsley. He must now be in his late 20's and approaching the maximum life span known for wild bottlenose dolphins. Sooty's history is given above. These animals provided the display in the summer of 1985. In September 1985 Knowsley were granted permission by the Department of the Environment to buy the animals from Mr Nutkins and to display them until 30.6.86.
The park and dolphinarium are closed in winter. There is no underwater viewing. The filtration system has been completely renewed recently and water turnover is about two and a half hours. There is a separate charge for entry to the dolphinarium. Recreational swimming with the dolphins is not allowed, but the trainers regularly swim with the animals in summer. No births have taken place in the pool.
Relevant staff
Ms Moore has seven years experience in dolphinaria and has worked at Brighton, Blair Drummond and in Switzerland.
Ms Langley is a trainee, who started in March 1985. She presents the shows.
Ms Moore and Ms Langley look after the dolphins between them, arriving at 12.00 and leaving after the late feed. They take turns to have free days and cover for each other during holidays. Mr Tennant is prepared to act as reserve presenter if required.
Future plans
Knowsley would like to continue keeping dolphins. They found that the public complained when none were kept; in particular, school party projects were frustrated. They wish to keep the animals as owners, not on a contract basis, since they prefer to have full responsibility. There is plenty of land available adjacent to the existing dolphinarium for expansion of facilities.
Leeds
Associated Pleasure Parks, Flamingo.
See Associated Pleasure Parks, touring.
Liverpool
Swimming pool.
Owner (dolphins): Franklin/Holloway (Margate).
A winter season show in Council swimming baths at unknown date(s).London Dolphinarium
The London Dolphinarium, 65 Oxford Street, London W1.
Owned: Pleasurama Ltd (Chairman: Sir Harmar Nicholls, MP)
Opened: April 1971. Closed: 1972 or 1973.
The indoor pool was 14.63 x 5.18-6.40 x 3.05 m deep, with a holding pool 4.27 x 5.18 x 2.13 m deep. Taylor (1980) says that the males had to be treated with anti-androgens to prevent them making vigorous amorous advances to the 'aquamaids' who took part in the show. He says that the establishment was never a great financial success. Burton (1972) mentions an experimental lecture and demonstration service for schools. Trainers: Mr B. Whitehead and Mr G. Marshal.Margate Dolphinarium
Cliftonville Dolphinarium, The Queens Hotel, Cliftonville, Margate, Kent.
Owners: Mr K. R. Franklin, Mr L. D. Holloway.
Opened: first dolphins arrived in April 1969, advertised as open in 1970. Closed: sometime between 1977 and 1980.
This was an indoor, permanent pool, adapted from an existing swimming pool, 21.34 x 10.67 x 2.74 - 3.66 m deep, with underwater viewing from the hotel bar. Margate was a major centre for seasonal shows, animals going out to Skegness and Southend in summer and wintering at Margate or doing winter shows elsewhere. Animals were provided for one or two summers to West Midland Safari Park and for one summer to Flamingo. Liverpool, Bradford and other Council swimming pools were used for short, seasonal shows. The Queen's Entertainment Centre leased dolphins from Aquatic Mammals Enterprises. In October 1974, the six animals present were owned by the then main company, with others leased. Mr Holloway and Mr Franklin are listed as trainers in 1974. Mr Garcia also trained here.
Queen's International Dolphins of Thanet operated until 1980 as suppliers, collectors and trainers of dolphins. The last pair were said to be Bonnie and Clyde, sold to Gasser. Ixia Trading Company was another Margate based company supplying dolphins. Mr C. Riggs and Miss L. Hradek, described as the owners/trainers of the Bream dolphins were based at Margate. They leased another dolphin to Mr Cowell in September 1973, which died.Morecambe Marineland
Morecambe Marineland, Stone Jetty, Morecambe, Lancashire.
Owner and operator: Ocean World (Marine) Ltd.
Managing Director: Mr R. Houlton.
Manager and Head Trainer: Mr J. Braithwaite.
Trainer and Schools Liason Officer: Mrs B. Braithwaite.
Veterinary care: Mr A. G. Greenwood, MA, VetMB, MRCVS; Mr D. C. Taylor, BUMS, FRCVS
Pools: A: 11.75 x 10.50 x 5.50 m; surface area 123 m2 B: 10.80 x 9.25 x 2.50 m; surface area 100 m2 Total surface area 223 m2 .
Outdoor, natural sea water.
Animal: 1 male bottlenose dolphin.
Owned by Ocean World (Marine) Ltd.
History
The late Mr Robert Jackson conceived the idea of building a marineland at Morecambe. He was the first Managing Director of Marineland (Morecambe) Ltd, which built and ran the marineland in the first year. Mr George Lansdale was also involved. A block of research laboratories and underwater viewing were mentioned in the early specifications but were not included in the final plans, for financial reasons, although the first guidebook mentions hopes for research laboratories as well as educational programmes for schools and other groups. Six bottlenose dolphins imported from Miami Seaquarium, Florida were present for the opening on 9.6.64. This private company went into liquidation after the first year and Morecambe and Heysham Corporation (as guarantors) took over. Mr Jackson continued as consultant until his death in May 1969. The Corporation sold the Marineland to Trident Television in April 1977. The present owners took over in late 1983.
Although Mr Nick Jackson has kindly provided information about the early days, the records of Morecambe and Heysham Corporation appear to have been lost during the local government reorganisation. At some point one of the aquaria may have been adapted as an underwater viewing tank, containing two dolphins. The small watertight door used to admit animals can still be seen at the back of this tank. However, it is possible that the tank was used for seals, not dolphins. The trainers at one stage were Mr S. Gallagher and Mrs S. Gallagher. Mr Gallagher spent some time there in 1965, returning after working in Europe and at Flamingo.
Since 1972, when Mr Coomber the aquarist arrived, a total of seven bottlenose dolphins have lived at Morecambe. The original group were Rocky, Sadie and Hattie. Two females, Cleo and Cindy, arrived in 1975, having spent some years previously in the 'petting pool' at Japanese Village, Los Angeles. Cindy died soon after and Cleo was moved to Windsor in 1977 and sold to Gasser, Switzerland. The newly caught Blue and Amber spent the winter at Windsor and performed with Rocky from 1981. Under Trident, animals wintered at Windsor while Morecambe was closed. Rocky last wintered at Windsor in 1983-84. Morecambe currently closes for the winter, but before 1977 was open all year, although the dolphins only performed in summer.
Present
Amber and Rocky were sold to the new owners, but Amber died at Windsor and Rocky returned alone to Morecambe in 1984.
In addition to the dolphin, Morecambe exhibits other aquatic animals: currently sea lions, alligators, marine turtles, tropical marine and freshwater fish, cold freshwater fish and local marine fauna. The sea lions mainly use pool B and the dolphin, pool A, although the animals are allowed the run of both pools at times.
The pools contain natural sea water, drawn from the Bay via a 100,000 gallon settling tank, filtered and chlorinated. The Bay water is closely monitored by the Central Electricity Generating Board because of local power stations. They would give warning of any major changes, for example in pollutant levels.
The dolphin is trained to bring foreign objects back for food reward. He sometimes stores suitable material eg. feathers, to obtain rewards when required. The staff believe that Rocky's performance is aided by the deep pool (much the deepest in the country), enabling him to gain more height for leaps. Recreational swimming with the dolphin* is not allowed. Staff believe that this is not in keeping with the dignity and character of the animal and is part of the anthropomorphic attitudes to dolphins which they deplore.
Dolphins visit Morecambe bay from time to time. In 1980 a stranded common dolphin was nursed in a back-tank for nine weeks, but was too ill to help permanently. Stranded seals are also nursed here and released when fit.
Relevant staff
Mr Braithwaite has 12 years experience in dolphinaria and has been at Morecambe since 1977. He has worked at Blair Drummond, Scarborough, Gibraltar, Knowsley and in South Africa. He is an electrical engineer and also maintains the plant. Mr Braithwaite has contacts at Nice, Majorca and South Africa. He welcomes the current custom of trainers visiting each other at the end of the season to exchange ideas, in contrast to the old days when training was a closely guarded secret.
Mrs Braithwaite has 14 years experience as a dolphin trainer and has been at Morecambe since 1977. She has worked at Blair Drummond, Scarborough, Gibraltar, Knowsley and South Africa.
Other staff are taken on in summer. A local student currently assists with the dolphin in vacations and there is a trainee dolphin keeper. Mr H. Coomber, who was appointed in 1972, is responsible for the aquaria.
Future
Morecambe have plans to extend their pools and would like to obtain two female dolphins from the USA to forma social group with a view to breeding.
Newcastle
Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
See Associated Pleasure Parks, touring.Ocean Park, Sunderland (1973-1975)
Ocean Park was (it is still in operation as a funfair) built and developed by John Colins a local fair owner. In a collaboration with Jervale Ltd (who owned the Animal Training School and Dolphinarium) a seasonal dolphin show was operated within the grounds.
The dolphins were sent from Flamingo Park for the summer months and returned to Flamingo Park for the remainder of the year.
It appears that this collaboration only happened for 2 or 3 years.
Plymouth
Swimming pool.
Dolphins: BBC ?
Adams (1972) says that this was the first modern attempt, since some strandings rescues in the 1930's, to keep cetaceans in the UK. In about 1962, two female bottlenose dolphins, from 'captive Italian stock', were transported by road and air to an outdoor swimming pool in Plymouth. They were brought by Mr T. Soper and Mr. K. M. Backhouse, contributors to the BBC TV programme Animal Magic (Backhouse, 1966). There is a photograph of one animal on the foam rubber travelling mattress in Backhouse (1966). The animals were said to have been imported by the BBC for a wildlife programme (BBC TV Watchdog programme, 1984). They were said to have travelled well and started eating squid and herrings, but both died on the eighth day, apparently from malnutrition (Adams, 1972). A television programme (BBC - Ride a Dolphin) on 12.12.62 included film of the transport and arrival. Similar film was included in the Animal Magic programme of 10.6.64.Porthcawl Dolphinarium (1971-1974)
Porthcawl Dolphinarium, Coney Beach, Porthcawl, S. Glamorgan.
Owner: Sir Leslie Joseph, Entam (later Trust Houses Forte Leisure).
Dolphins: Mr Raber (Battersea); 1973 Jervale Ltd, Flamingo Park (Mr Nolan).
Opened: summer 1971. Closed: summer 1974.
The pool, in a precast concrete building, was 13.72 x 6.71 x 2.74 m deep. In October 1974 it was said that the dolphins wintered at Flamingo. It is not clear when the change from Battersea to Flamingo animals took place, possibly for the 1973 season. Trainer: Ms D. Steele.Originally built and run by Marine Mammals International (owned by Joe Raber). The dolphinarium closed in 1974 with the last two dolphins going to Royalty Theatre Dolphinarium (Royalty Folies).
The dolphinarium was then altered to accommodate sea lions with shows run by Jervale Ltd (who owned Animal Training School and ran dolphin shows at Flamingo Park and Ocean Park) for another year in 1975.
Ramsgate
Owner: Pleasurama.
Opened: 1971 ? Closed: 1972.
This pool was never open to the public, but used for resting and training dolphins for Oxford Street and for export to Majorca.Rhyl Dolphinarium
Rhyl Dolphinarium, Promenade, Rhyl, Clwyd.
Owner: Entam (later Trust Houses Forte Leisure).
Opened: 28.6.72 (Whitsun). Closed: 1975 ?
The permanent indoor pool was 15.24 x 7.62 x 3.05 m deep and had also a small holding pool. The Trust Houses Forte animals wintered at Knowsley and later at Woburn. Animals performed under the names 'Flipper' and 'Blodwyn'.Royalty Theatre Dolphinarium (1974)
Owner: Paul Raymond.
Dolphins: Mr Raber (Battersea).
Opened: scheduled 25.3.74, but possibly later. Closed: about two weeks later.
The dolphin act was part of a Paul Raymond nude review and is said to have had a short run due to adverse criticism. The famous 'dolphin strip tease' appears to have been accomplished by training the ;animals to press quick-release fasteners and the swimmers to position themselves appropriately; not by soaking the bikinis in fish meal or by hiding pieces of fish in the costumes. Trainers: Mr D. Garcia and Mr J. Dineley.The dolphinarium was housed in the Royalty Theatre, London and was originally called Royalty Folies but was soon renamed as the much less mysterious "Great International Nude Show".
The dolphinarium was the brainchild of Paul Raymond who at that time owned "Raymond's Review Bar".
The dolphinarium was a curious mix of striptease and straight dolphin show. There were two dolphins called Pixie and Penny who were there for the entire 12 week season from April to June 1974.
The two dolphins were housed in a pool that weighed 65 tonnes and held 10,000 gallons of water.
The dolphins were originally trained at Porthcawl. Immediately after the dolphinarium closed they went to Woburn Safari Park and then to Flamingo Park.
The dolphins were owned by Jervale Ltd who sent them abroad in 1977 (to the far east). Anyone wishing to learn more of this would do well to read David Taylor's now sadly out of print book "Doctor In The Zoo" where he relates the tragic tale. Suffice to say he was called out to treat the dolphins who were ill to find them in unfiltered water with liver damage and other health problems.
Sadly the dolphins were relocated to Britain and soon died from viral infections caught while in the Far East.
St. Asaph
Around 1967.
A female bottlenose dolphin and a suckling were flown in from Key Largo, Florida. There were feeding difficulties, and although attempts were made to express milk from the female for the baby, it died after two days. Some sources believe that this may be a confusion with Gwyrch Castle, but the date is too early. The report came at second hand from a former trainer here.Sandown Dolphinarium (Isle of Wight)
Isle of Wight Dolphinarium, Blue Lagoon, Esplanade, Sandown, Isle of Wight.
Owner: Performing Dolphins Ltd (Mr Cowell).
Opened: June 1971 or 1972. Closed: after 1973 summer season.
An adapted outdoor swimming pool, 24.38 x 6.10 x 2.44 - 3.05 m deep. The creditors of Performing Dolphins Ltd met in London in April 1974.Sandown Dolphinarium was operated by Ted Cowell (who also ran Brean Down Dolphinarium) in a disused swimming pool on Sandown sea front.
All but one of the dolphins was supplied by Aquatic Mammal Enterprises.
The dolphinariums at Sandown and Brean Down were both operated by Ted Cowell with all but one of the animals supplied by Aquatic Mammal Enterprises. Sandown was a converted swimming pool located at the Blue Lagoon area of Sandown sea-front.
Scarborough Marineland & Zoo (1969-1984)
Scarborough Marineland, Scarborough Zoo, North stead Road, Scarborough, Yorkshire.
Owners: Mr D. Robinson, Scotia, Trident Television, Knick Leisure Group plc.
Dolphins: Mr D. Robinson; Scotia; 1973-December 1983 Trident Television; 1984 Windsor Safari Park.
Opened: 1968.
Dolphinarium: 1968-1984.
The dolphin pool was 13.72 x 6.89 x 3.05 m deep, surface area 95 m2 ; open in summer but covered with a temporary timber structure in winter. The second, glass-sided tank, 12.19 x 4.88 x 2.74 m deep, surface area 60 m2 , was used at times as a dolphin holding or isolation pool and had a temporary wooden roof in winter. Three portable holding tanks of about 5,000 gallons each were noted in October 1974. The dolphins usually wintered elsewhere: Malta (1974 at least), South Africa (1975-1976), Gibraltar (1977?), Windsor (1978-1985), Christmas 1983/4 Belfast. Some animals travelled between Scarborough/Flamingo and Mr Robinson's establishment at Hemingford, Quebec in Canada about 1970 - 1974. Natural sea water was used in the early years, but artificial salt water later for improved water quality control. The dolphin pool was cooled in summer. Scarborough was run with Flamingo from 1969-1973, but there were earlier connections as Mr Robinson was one of the Flamingo founders. At that time Flamingo also supplied Dudley and Cleethorpes. Fran 1974-1978 Scarborough supplied the Blair Drummond dolphins. The Scarborough dolphins performed under the names of 'Flipper' and 'Jenkie'.
An expedition went to the Faros, possibly in the mid-1970's, in search of pilot whales for display. A wounded animal was obtained and kept in a pool for a short time, but was too ill to travel and was returned to the local people. A party of 20 Faroese schoolchildren were subsequently brought to Scarborough to see the dolphins and other exhibits. This was intended to influence the children against the pilot whale hunt.
Trainers: Mr G. Panofsky, Mr K. Ready, Mr D. Cartridge, Mr B. Samples, Mr B. Lyle, Mr S. Walton, Mr G. Mayer (from Majorca), Mr J. Braithwaite, Mrs B. Braithwaite.Owned and operated by Dan Robinson who at one time was involved with Scotia Leisure (who at one time owned Flamingo Park).
Dolphins from Scarborough were also sent to Blair Drummond Safari Park.
When the dolphinarium closed in 1984 the site was redeveloped as a funfair called "Mr Marvel's Theme Park" which closed in the early 1990's.
Currently the site is undeveloped.
Seaburn Ocean World
Sea burn Ocean World, Sea burn Ocean Park, Rocker, Sunderland.
Owner: Sea burn Ocean Park Ltd, Roker, Sunderland. (Mr Nolan).
Open: 1974 only.
The main pool was 12.80 x 7.32 x 3.05 m deep and the isolation pool 9.14 x 6.10 x 1.22 m deep. Ms Robin and Mr F. Rendell trained here.
Skegness Dolphinarium
Skegness Dolphinarium, Tower Parade, Skegness, Lincolnshire.
Owned: Mr Franklin (Margate).
Opened: Whitsun 1972 (another source says 1968). Closed: 1977 or 1978.
A temporary outdoor exhibit with a partly sunken 9.14 m diameter 2.13 - 2.44 m deep plastic lined pool. The show was said to have had a full commentary, which could be pitched to requirements, with biological facts as well as general material (Williamson and Schomberg, 1976).Southend-On-Sea Dolphinarium
Southend-on-Sea Dolphinarium, adjoining the Pier, Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
Owner: Mr L. D. Holloway, Cliftonville, Margate.
Dolphins: Mr Franklin (Margate).
Opened: 1971. Closed: 1975?.
An outdoor exhibit, with a 10.70 m diameter, 2.13-2.44 m deep plastic lined sunken pool. Open for about 10 weeks in summer, with dolphins wintering at Margate, at winter shows in the UK and abroad or exported. Williamson and Schomberg (1976) report that an educational lecture was available on request. Mr Holloway and Mr Franklin are noted as trainers in 1974.Southsea Dolphinarium (Portsmouth)
Owner: Pleasurama.
Dolphins: Flamingo.
Open: 1972 and 1973 only ?
Trainer: Mr K. Reany.
An outdoor exhibit on the sea front with a 9.14 m diameter, 3.05 m deep plastic lined steel tank above ground level. The 1973 dolphins were brought from Flamingo to Southampton by train and then travelled by road to Southsea. These animals then went to Windsor.West Midlands Safari Park
West Midland Safari Park, Spring Grove, Bewdley, Worcester.
Owner: Mr Jimmy Chipperfield; leased by American Ccmpany about 1976.
Opened: 1973.
Dolphinarium: probably only summers 1976 and 1977.
Dolphins: Franklin/Holloway (Margate).Weymouth Dolphinarium
Windsor Safari Park
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dxoG2sJUOQ4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The video shows the moving of Nemo from Clacton to Windsor.
Windsor Safari Park Ltd, Winkfield Road, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 4AY.
Owner: Windsor Safari Park Ltd, a subsidiary of Southbrook and City Holdings Ltd.
Managing Director: Mr A. Haworth-Booth.
General Manager: Mr T. Nutkins.
Curator: Mr R. F. Rendell.
Senior Warden in Charge of Dolphinarium: Mr D. Lindsay.
Trainers: Ms A. Redknap, BSc, Mr W.R. Prickett, Mr P. Lanehart, Mr P. C. Witts, Mr D. Beasley.
Education Officer: Ms S. Goldswain.
Assistant Education Officer: Ms J. Covering, L1B, BEd.
Submission prepared by Mr S. G. Brown, BSc, MSc.
Veterinary Care: Mr A. G. Greenwood, MA, VetMB, MRCVS; Mr D. C. Taylor, BVMS, FRCVS.
Pools: A: rectangular display pool 26.0 x 14.0 x 3.5 m deep with four timber holding pens 2.6 x 3.5 x 1.5 m deep included. Two underwater viewing panels, under cover.
B: pear shaped back pool, partly above ground,
with seven underwater viewing panels
(not under cover) and a
bridge at one end for public viewing.
Connected to the main complex by a channel.
Maximum length 26.0 m, maximum width 12.5 m, 3.5 m deep.
C: rectangular whale holding pool, adjacent to main pool and connected to it. Screened from the public but open air. 7.6 x 7.6 x 3.0 m deep.
Approximate surface areas: A: 315 m2 (ex. holding pools); B: 218 m2 ; C: 58 m2 ;
Total: 640 m2 (inc. holding pools).
Outdoor, salt mix water.
Animals: 2 male, 3 female (one pregnant at end 1985) adult bottlenose dolphins, 2 male bottlenose dolphin calves, 2 killer whales (male and female).
The dolphins and female killer whale are owned by Windsor Safari Park Ltd; the male killer whale is owned by International Animal Exchange, and housed at Windsor at the request of the Department of the Environment.
History
The Windsor Safari Park was founded and developed by the Billy Smart Organisation in 1969 and was officially opened in 1970, by HRH Princess Margaret. The Park was sold to Trident Television in June 1977 and bought by Southbrook and City Holdings Ltd in December 1983, who continue to be the holding company.
In 1965, when 30 pilot whales were spotted in the Thames, Billy Smart and others (probably including Flamingo staff) organised a catching expedition. Mr John Sadler, who later became the first dolphin trainer at Windsor, spent five days and £ 1,000 trying to catch animals for display until notified by the police that whale catching in the Thames was illegal (Adams, 1972). The whale sighting is not noted in the British Museum (Natural History) records, but the story has been confirmed from several independent sources, including Mr G. Smart.
Taylor (1982) describes how he and Mr G. Smart went to Malta to rescue two baby pilot whales which had spent three days on a fishmongers slab. The animals were treated and kept in a swimming pool, with the intention of taking them back to Windsor. Smart and Taylor went to make arrangements but on return found the animals very ill from sunburn. The local people caring for the animals had been told to keep them out of the sun, but had decided that since the animals seemed to prefer sun to shade, a covering of sun tan oil would provide sufficient protection and let them out. The animals were covered in infected blisters and died shortly after.
The first four bottlenose dolphins, including Smartie who is still alive at Windsor, arrived in July 1969. Mr R. Bloom, who designed the original pool (areas A and C), assisted with the catching in Florida. Two more dolphins arrived in March 1970, including Honey who is still alive. One of the original group died in November 1970, after ingesting a plastic bag. The first killer whale, Ramu III arrived in September 1970. No other species, except bottlenose dolphins and killer whales, have been kept at Windsor, although a pilot whale, Hummer, was to have been part of the exchange when Ramu went to Sea World, California in 1976. The plan was not completed because Hummer was not well enough to travel at the time. A feasibility study was made by Mr Sadler and others, of the Faroes pilot whale fishery in 1976, but there was no possibility of obtaining animals for display from this source.
Present
In the changes of ownership, animal records at Windsor appear to have gone astray. The list was compiled from several sources, including the personal records of Mr G. Smart. The history of Smartie and Honey is described above. Lulu is one of two females brought to Flamingo in December 1971. This pair performed at Southsea in the summer of 1972 and came to Windsor in the autumn. Angie was previously in captivity at Sea World, San Diego and arrived in 1977 with two other dolphins in exchange for Ramu. Prince came from the Texas coast in 1980. He previously performed in summer at Scarborough. Juno was born to Lulu and Smartie in 1984. Neptune was born to Honey and Smartie in 1985. Angie is currently pregnant by Smartie. Winnie, the female killer whale, was caught off Iceland in 1977. She arrived in March 1978, having spent the winter at Harderwijk, the Netherlands. Nemo, the male killer whale, was caught off Iceland in 1981 and initially kept at Clacton. He was brought to Windsor in June 1985. Recreational swimming with the dolphins is in general not allowed although exceptions may be made in special circumstances. Arrangements have been made for handicapped, disabled and other special groups to meet the dolphins.
Visitor attendance in 1983-84 was 525,000, in 1984-85 550,000 and about 700,000 are expected in 1985-86, for the whole park. The Safari Park and dolphinarium are open throughout the year. Besides the dolphin and killer whale displays, there are sea lion displays (in the dolphin pool), parrot displays, birds of prey displays and previously in summer, high diving and clown acts (in the dolphin pool).
The back pool (pool B), with its own water treatment equipment, was built in 1978. This pool can also be operated together with the rest of the complex. All three pools can be separately drained. Windsor have recently installed new chlorination equipment and are currently reconditioning the filtration equipment for the main pool. A new splash barrier is to be erected at the main pool and the back pool wall was raised 12 months ago.
Relevant staff
Mr Haworth-Booth was Chief Executive of African Lion Safari Group in Australia for 10 years; the park at Warragamba has a dolphinarium which is described in the Australian Senate Select Committee Report (Australia, 1985).
Mr Nutkins was appointed Assistant General Manageof a Pleasurama dolphinarium in 1968 and was later involved wth their Oxford Street establishment. From 1970 to 1983 he was General Manager of the four Trust Houses Forte dolphinaria. He joined Windsor in 1985.
Mr Rendell began his career with captive cetaceans as a trainee at Flamingo in 1965 and was Curator when he left in 1970 to take over the Coventry dolphinarium. He also worked with Mr Nolan at South Shields. Mr Rendell came to Windsor as Curator in 1974 and is responsible for the entire animal collection. Mr Lindsay, the Senior Warden in charge of the dolphinarium, came to Windsor in 1979 and has worked with the cetaceans since 1980. He spent the 1982 season at Morecambe on secondment. He has passed the first two parts of the ZSL Animal Management Course and part of the City and Guilds course. He is a member of the Association of British Wild Animal Keepers, and of the International Marine Animals Trainers Association.
Ms Redknap worked at Windsor on a voluntary basis from 1982-83 and was then taken on to the permanent staff of the dolphinarium. Her degree is in Life Sciences and her previous experience is as a veterinary nurse.
Mr Witts, the show co-ordinator, joined the staff in 1985. His previous experience was in business and his other interests are theatrical.
Mr Lanehart joined the staff in 1983. He also presents the parrot show.
Mr Prickett and Mr Beasley joined in August 1985. Both are trainees on probation. Casual staff, including students and work experience people, assist during the summer. In 1985 six people worked at the dolphinarium at different times, under the supervision of the staff.
It is general policy to train the Park's own dolphinarium staff. Keepers may transfer from other animal sections and this is encouraged to provide a broader background in animal husbandry. Staff are encouraged to take additional training, for example the ZSL courses, as well as to belong to professional associations. Besides training in all aspects of marine mammal husbandry and general animal welfare, staff are trained in show presentation and public relations. They are encouraged to visit other establishments and to attend professional meetings.
Future
A large new pool for killer whales is planned, with maximum length 50 m and maximum width 22 m. The two holding pools will be 15 m in diameter. Unfortunately, the 'scale' drawings in the submission were not to scale and gave no information on proposed depths. Greenpeace workers report that the outline plans for the pool give one area 7 x 17 x 10 m deep with the rest of the main pool 3 m deep. The holding pools are planned to be 4 m deep. It is hoped to establish a breeding group of killer whales and to acquire a second female to form a more balanced group.
Whipsnade Zoo
The Water Mammals Exhibit, The Zoological Society of London, Whipsnade Park, Dunstable, Beds. LU6 2LF.
Owner: The Zoological Society of London (Registered scientific and educational charity, with zoological gardens at Regent's Park, London and at Whipsnade).
President: Sir William Henderson, FRS.
Secretary: Dr R. M. Laws, CBE, FRS.
Treasurer: The Rt. Hon. Lord Peyton of Yeovil.,
Whipsnade:
Curator: Mr V. J. A. Manton, MRCVS, FIBiol.
Park Manager: Mr 0. Chamberlain.
Senior Overseer: Mr J. Stanbridge. Overseer: Mr J. Datlen.
Present dolphinarium staff: Mr L. Radford, Senior Keeper; Ms M. Sudder, Ms J. Crabtree, Ms C. A. Bird.
Education Officer: Mr Ricketts.
Veterinary Care: Mr Manton, Mr R. Kock, MA, VetMB, MRCVS.
Pools: A: roughly boomerang-shaped outdoor pool;
max. length 19.0 m, max. width 5.0 m, 3.4 m deep.
B: trapezium-shaped indoor pool;
max. length 13.0 m, max. width 5.0 m, 3.4 m deep.
C: rectangular indoor isolation pool with stranding shelf;
6.0 x 4.8 m; shelf 4.8 m x 2.0 m x 1.0 m deep, rest 2.5 m deep.
Surface areas approx. 95, 65, 20 m2 ; total 180 m2 All pools can be operated and drained separately. Partly indoor, salt mix water.
Animals: 1 male and 1 female bottlenose dolphins. Owned by the Zoological Society of London.
History
The Zoological Society of London (ZLS) was founded in 1826, with the intention of establishing a collection of animals in London for the advancement of zoology and animal physiology and the introduction of new and curious subjects of the animal kingdom. The zoological gardens at Regent's Park were opened in 1828. In the 1860's, Mr A. D. Bartlett, the Superintendent, and Mr Frank Buckland made several efforts to keep net-caught harbour porpoises at Regent's Park. (14 arrived, 3 died before collection; none lived very long.) There was also, apparently, a whale pool constructed at Regent's Park to receive a white whale from north America which had been promised (Blunt, 1976: Buckland, 1866). It is unlikely that any white whale arrived at this time since Lee (1878) makes no mention of it in his review.
The ZLS acquired Whipsnade Park in 1927 and it was opened to the public in 1931. It was conceived as the first 'open' zoo, where the animals could roam in large open-air enclosures.
Present
The Society has always exhibited a wide range of species and in the early 1970's it was decided that a representative of the Order Cetacea would enhance the educational value of their collection. A small unit was opened in May 1972, after extensive consultations with other establishments to determine the requirements for 'best practice' of the day. It was intended to be the beginning of a complex showing members of the Order (Manton, 1974), but no further development of the exhibit had been carried out by the end of 1985.
One of the first three dolphins died within a few days of arrival. Two more arrived in the autumn of 1972. In 1984 a calf was born to Nina, who had arrived in 1978, which lived for just under a month. The present male, Samson, came from the Texas coast in 1978. The female, Lady, was taken in the same area in 1980. She was previously at Windsor, performing at Scarborough in summer, and was bought by the ZLS in July 1985.
Whipsnade, uniquely for the UK, have complete records of their animals for the time they lived in the park and a complete set of keepers' logbooks, which have provided data for several research projects (see Research section). Recreational swimming with the dolphins is not allowed and staff usually only enter the pool for maintenance reasons. The park is open throughout the year, with dolphin displays in summer. Training sessions take place in winter, without commentary, which are advertised in the park in the same way as summer show times. Visitors may enter the underwater viewing and outdoor pool areas at any time. The indoor pool area is closed for an hour at lunch time, but otherwise freely open to the public.
The indoor pool at Whipsnade has three large underwater viewing windows under cover. The filtration plant can also be seen on the other side of the viewing corridor.
Extensive repairs to the roof of the indoor pools were in progress in the autumn of 1985.
Relevant staff
Mr Manton has been involved with the dolphinarium from the beginning. His interest has resulted in papers on the principles of water treatment and on nutrition (Manton, 1974; 1975). Mr Manton has been an editor of Aquatic Mammals since 1972 and sole editor since 1985. He is a member of the board of the EAAM at present but has served in several capacities in the past, including Secretary. With Mr Kock, he provides the veterinary care for the dolphins and conducts post mortem examinations.
Mr Datlen, the Overseer, set up the dolphinarium when he was a Head Keeper.
Mr Radford, a Senior Keeper, is in charge of the dolphinarium at present. His research project for the Advanced Course in Animal Management was on the food intake of the dolphins.
Ms Sudder (Qualified Keeper), Ms Crabtree (Unqualified Keeper) and Ms Bird (Menagerie Helper) also care for the dolphins, train and present shows.
Two staff are on duty at the dolphinarium each day. Mr Datlen and Ms Sharpe (formerly at the dolphinarium, now at the Childress' Zoo) are also available to provide cover if required.
Staff appointment and training
The ZLS have a policy of taking on staff for the institution in general. After appointment they may be assigned to any section and may be moved at any time. The dolphinarium staff have the same status and conditions as any other staff. Appointments may be made in the first instance at the age of 16 to Menagerie Helper, with a six month probation. Promotion to Unqualified Keeper may take place at 21, but carries no pay increase, being a recognition of competence only. By this time, the first part of the ZLS Animal Management Course will have been passed. The course is run in conjunction with Paddington Technical College. Senior zoo staff act as tutors for specific subject areas. Staff over 21 on appointment become Unqualified Keepers but are barred from further promotion until the ZSL course is passed.
There are two steps for promotion to Qualified Keeper. Staff must have served 5 years under 21 or 2 years over 21, or a combination of either. They must also pass the Ordinary level of the ZSL Animal Management Course. This includes practical assessments, written and oral examinations. The practical assessment extends over two years with senior staff reporting on the candidates' timekeeping, reliability, initiative, conduct, practical skills with the animals and public relations abilities. After four years as Qualified Keeper there is a pay increment. After another three years staff may be appointed to Senior Keeper. This requires the Advanced Course to be passed, which includes a research project. The different stages in the staff training programme represent personal promotions and do not necessarily entail extra responsibility. The senior staff (Head Keepers and above) are promoted from among the Senior Keepers.
The ZSL Animal Management Courses (and the similar National Extension College postal Animal Management Course for City and Guilds examinations) are intended to train students in all aspects of animal management and modern zoo practice, although there is provision for some specialization in the later stages. The Society is unable, for financia~reasons, to support travel for keeping staff to other establishments or to professional meetings.
Future
Whipsnade would like to build a large breeding complex, stocked with animals of appropriate age from the same wild social group, near the existing dolphinarium, retaining the old pool for performances.
Woburn Safari Park
Woburn Wild Animal Kingdom Ltd, Woburn, Bedfordshire.
Owners: The Marquis of Tavistock and the Chipperfield Organisation.
Opened: 1970.
Dolphinarium: 1971 - end 1983. Trust Houses Forte, on contract.
The rectangular indoor pool was 13.70 x 7.62 x 3.96 m deep, with a holding pool 3.05 x 3.05 x 2.13 m deep.
The Chipperfield Organisation also run Longleat (which never had a dolphinarium) and Blair Drummond. The Blair Drummond dolphins were supplied by Mr. Chipperfield, Mr D. Robinson, Scarborough, and later by Trust Houses Forte. Woburn was the main wintering pool for the Trust Houses Forte dolphins in later years.
Woburn would like to return to keeping dolphins as there is great public demand and visitor numbers decline if none are displayed. A sub-contract or purchase would be considered, but the main aim would be to keep the animals properly. The pool would be rebuilt if necessary and experienced staff taken on. Mr Cattle, the current sea lion trainer, is also experienced with dolphins, having worked at Hagenbeck's in Germany.
When dolphins were displayed, the show and script were the responsibility of the trainers. The park guide used to contain dolphin information. Educational materials are provided for visiting schools, relating to existing animals. Currently about 350,000 people visit Woburn each year. About two thirds of the coach parties are schools, giving about 1,000 parties a year from about a 60 mile radius. The park (and dolphinarium in its day) is open between mid-March and the end of October.
The animals at Woburn are available for research. No projects were done on the dolphins, but the monkeys and lions have been the subject of student theses. Some staff have completed projects as part of the City and Guilds Animal Management Courses. Facilities and sponsorship are offered to staff. Reserve staff from Kenya and Uganda have been trained at Woburn in the handling of wild animals in the open. Advice has also been given on the building of a wildlife sanctuary in Zambia. Woburn regards itself as a centre of expertise in the handling of large wild animals.
On 17.3.79 a whitebeaked dolphin, stranded at Spurn Head, was rescued. It died on 18.3.79. Dobbs (1981) mentions his involvement with this animal, which he describes as a whitesided dolphin, although the photographs show it to be a whitebeaked dolphin.
Worthing
Swimming pool.
Dolphins: Seamark (Mr R. Bloom and Brighton).
Open: late 1979 - mid 1980 ?
Worthing was only used to house one shipment of dolphins. There were no shows, but a charge was made to view the animals. This batch of dolphins, from Hong Kong, where they had been held for some months, were to have gone to Clacton, before moving to permanent homes. However, the pier was damaged by a storm and the accommodation at Worthing found at short notice.
Major Players in the UK Dolphinarium Scene
Jervale Ltd
Marine Mammals International
Owned and operated dolphin shows in Battersea, Porthcawl and for one summer Blackpool. Also supplied dolphins for Royalty Folies.
Scotia Investments
Trust Houses Forte (Entam)
Aquatic Mammal Enterprises
This company was based in Key Largo, Florida, USA and was owned by Charlie and Leigh Riggs. They supplied the dolphins for the movie "Day of the Dolphins". In 1974 the Riggs' brought 4 dolphins to the UK (Max, Leigh, Little Charlie and Peewee) who were intially housed at Margate and then spent the summer split between Cleethorpes, Sandown and Brean Down before they all went back to the US in 1975.