BACKGROUND
Brean Down Dolphinarium was one season facility operating in 1974. It was fabricated as an in-ground breeze block construction with a plastic liner.
Dolphins: leased from owners/trainers Mr C. Riggs and Miss L. Hradek, Margate. Open: summer 1974. Two dolphins from Margate arrived on 11.7.74 and returned 21.9.74. It is alleged that the animals were removed by the owners/trainers after a dispute over the standard of care and facilities.
AQUATIC MAMMAL ENTERPRISES
Aquatic Mammal Enterprises was a dolphin supply and training company based in Key Largo, Florida, USA. It was operated by Charlie and Leigh Riggs. Riggs was a former Vietnam veteran and pilot who became involved in dolphin capture operations due to his flying skills. In 1973 he supplied the dolphins for Mike Nichol's film 'The Day of the Dolphin'. In 1974, the company came to the UK with 4 bottle-nosed dolphins: 'Max', 'Leigh', 'Little Charlie' and 'Peewee'. The animals were housed initially at the Margate dolphinarium but spent summer performing at Cleethorpes Zoo, Sandown Dolphinarium and Brean Down Dolphinarium. Riggs and all the dolphins returned to the US in 1975.
AQUATIC MAMMAL ENTERPRISES
Aquatic Mammal Enterprises was a dolphin supply and training company based in Key Largo, Florida, USA. It was operated by Charlie and Leigh Riggs. Riggs was a former Vietnam veteran and pilot who became involved in dolphin capture operations due to his flying skills. In 1973 he supplied the dolphins for Mike Nichol's film 'The Day of the Dolphin'. In 1974, the company came to the UK with 4 bottle-nosed dolphins: 'Max', 'Leigh', 'Little Charlie' and 'Peewee'. The animals were housed initially at the Margate dolphinarium but spent summer performing at Cleethorpes Zoo, Sandown Dolphinarium and Brean Down Dolphinarium. Riggs and all the dolphins returned to the US in 1975.