Coventry Zoo Dolphinarium: 1972 - 1975





BACKGROUND

The Coventry Zoo was opened in 1966 by cousins of the Chipperfield circus family. It was notably famous for a large fibreglass Zulu warrior standing at the main gates. Coventry Zoo housed two bottle nose dolphins, 'Chipper' and 'Nero' for a number of years in the early nineteen-seventies in a geodesic dome. The animals had been originally imported from Florida for a dolphinarium in an amusement park in Weymouth in Dorest for one summer season in 1971 before being moved to Coventry. The animals eventually left the zoo and where re-homed at Tierpark Hagenbeck's dolphinarium Hamburg, Germany.

 A Review of Dolphinaria states:

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; Mr Jon Kershaw; 1974 Mrs Chipperfield.

PHOTOGRAPHS 

The view across Coventry zoo with the dolphin dome can be seen on the right hand side. Picture courtesy of Coventry Telegraph.

Dolphin Dome on the right of the picture


The construction of the Dolphin Dome at Coventry Zoo. Picture courtesy of Coventry Telegraph.

Trainer Francis Rendell

Trainer Francis Rendell

Trainer Jon Kershaw

Trainer Mrs Sheila Chipperfield

Trainer Mrs Sheila Chipperfield


Mrs Sheila Chipperfield with Jon Kershaw diving into the pool


VIDEO

ITV news. Cleaning dolphins teeth at Coventry Zoo


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