BACKGROUND
The Coventry Zoo was opened in 1966 by cousins of the Chipperfield
circus family. It was notably famous for a large fiberglass 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 were 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
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| The view across Coventry zoo with the dolphin dome can be seen on the right hand side. Picture courtesy of Coventry Telegraph. |
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| Dolphin Dome on the right of the picture |
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The construction of the Dolphin Dome at Coventry Zoo. Picture courtesy of Coventry Telegraph.
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