BACKGROUND
The dolphinarium was housed in an existing building in the Festival
Gardens, Battersea Park. It opened in March 1971. Press reports at the
time detailed the head trainer as Jean Tiebor with three dolphins called
Flipper, Skipper and Buddy. It is reported that these animals were
collected from Florida in January 1971.
A 9.72 m diameter, 3.66 m deep circular steel tank, with tiled bottom within an artificially lit converted building in the centre of the Fun Fair. There were two or three resident animals and others may have passed through on their way from the USA to Europe. The dolphinarium was severely damaged by fire in 1972/3. The dolphins survived and were removed to Porthcawl.
