SANDOWN
DOLPHINARIUM - ISLE OF WIGHT
The
dolphinariums at Sandown and Brean Down were both
operated by Ted Cowell with all but one of the animals supplied by Aquatic
Mammal Enterprises. Sandown was a converted swimming pool located
at the Blue Lagoon area of Sandown sea-front.
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 former Vietnam veteran and pilot who became in involved in dolphin
capture operation due to his flying skills. In 1973 he supplied the dolphins
for the 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 the summer season performing at Cleethorpes
Zoo, Sandown Dolphinarium and Brean Down Dolphinarium. Riggs and all
of the dolphins return to the US in 1975.