Durley Chine and Weymouth Dolphinariums: 1970 - 1971




The photograph on the front page of the souvenir programme was taken at
the Queen Hotel Dolphinarium in Margate, Kent,


In 1970 a dolphinarium was constructed located on Durley Chine, Bournemouth and operated by a company called Orca International Ltd. The show listed four dolphins on display: Chipper, Mickey, Adonis and Nero. The show producer, compere and director of training was Douglas Muir with Godren Panitzke also credited as a trainer. The show ran for one season.
Two dolphins, Chipper and Nero, were then acquired by the Chipperfield Brothers Amusement Park in Weymouth.


These dolphins performed in Weymouth for one summer season before being relocated to the Coventry Zoo which was also owned by the Chipperfield Brothers. The animals were housed in a purpose-built pool under a geodesic dome.

The animals remained at the zoo until 1976 when they were temporarily moved to Woburn Safari Park before continuing their journey to their permanent home at the dolphinarium at the Hackenbeck Tierpark in Hamburg, Germany.


Many of the photographs in the souvenier programme were not taken at Durley Chine.
Here the photographs are of Doug Muir at Windsor safari park.

This photograph may be have taken at the pool at Durley Chime

Three of the photographs are taken at the original dolphin pool
at Brighton Aquarium.  The other is at Windsor safari park with two at Vancouver Aquarium.






No comments:

Post a Comment