2006 - CURRENT ZOO CONSULTANT.

Currently based in London and undertaking zoological consultancy work on animal training and behaviour and the installation, design and husbandry of aquatic animals. More information regarding my work can be found HERE.

2005 - Gentle Lemur at Chessington World of Adventures

2004 - 2006 ZOO MANAGER

Chessington World of Adventures, Chessington, Surrey

Initially employed to manage the Animal Behaviour Section in the park's Zoo Department responsible for the development, training and presentation of the park's group of California sea lions and mixed species bird show. In September 2004, took on the further role of Acting Zoo Manager. In January 2005 was confirmed as full-time Zoo Manager and relinquished role as Curator of Animal Behaviour.

2001 - 2004 LECTURER

Shuttleworth College, Old Warden, Bedfordshire

Responsible for the teaching and assessment of students undertaking a number of courses at both Further and Higher Educational levels, e.g. First and National Diplomas in Animal Care/Management and the Higher National Diploma in Animal Management. Subject taught: Animal Husbandry, Animal Behaviour, Management of Exotics, Aquatic Management, Aquarium Systems, Animal Science and The Management of Animal Collections

1998 - 2001 AQUATICS MANAGER

Frost's @ Willington Garden Centre, Bedford.

Working as part of the management team in the role of manager of the aquatics department. Duties include department administration, staff supervision and training; the design, operation and maintenance of systems for tropical, cold water fish and plants; customer care and advisement on matters related to water gardens and aquaria operations. In 1999 and 2000 Frost's at Willington was awarded Garden Centre of the Year by the Garden Centre Association (GCA).

1994 - 1997 STUDENT - CONSULTANT

The London Aquarium, County Hall, London:

Four-week work placement (September/October 1997) within the aquarist department at this new world class aquarium. This involved general exotic fish husbandry and experience in the operation and maintenance of large biologically based water treatment systems utilising protein skimmers, ozone and ultraviolet sterilisation technologies.

Chessington World of Adventures, Chessington, Surrey

Animal behaviour and welfare consultant (summer 1996) to the newly formed Animal Presentation department. My remit was to advise and train staff on methods of training, handling, and husbandry of sea-lions (Zalophus californianus). I also advised on water treatment protocols for the park’s new 250,000 gallons sea-lion exhibit.

Bedford College and The University of Luton

After successfully completing a 3 month BSc Engineering Access course at Bedford College, I gained admission to read for a BA Honours degree in psychology with biology at the University of Luton. The subject for my final year dissertation explored the use of positive reinforcement and the negative effect of punishment in the behaviour modification of animals: a copy of this paper can be found here. My degree was successfully completed and awarded in July 1997. Bedford College and the University of Luton have now become the University of Bedfordshire.

1987 - 1993: SEA-LION TRAINER.

Woburn Safari Park, Woburn, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Managed the operation of the safari park's sea-lion display. Involved in all aspects of animal care: display development and presentation; animal training, including newly imported untrained animals; water treatment systems operation and maintenance, including colourmetric water analysis. From the summer season of 1989 undertook cover presentation of a group of trained macaws (Ara sp.).

1978-1985: ZOO-KEEPER/SEA-LION TRAINER

Welsh Mountain Zoo, Colwyn Bay, Clwyd, North Wales

General animal husbandry of a wide range of species displayed including small mammals, various bird species, hoof-stock and carnivores. Specific care of the zoo’s group of California sea-lions (Zalophus californianus) including the presenting and training animals for public display: during my time at Colwyn Bay we began to successfully breed from this group. Managing penguin exhibit including hand-rearing young. Rehabilitation of local stranded seal pups (Halichoerus grypus). Undertook the position of acting head-keeper for several months during a period of senior staff transition that involved basic staff management.

1977: DOLPHIN/SEA-LION TRAINER

Dolfirama, Zandvoort, Holland

Assistant Head Trainer to a large Dutch dolphinarium. This large facility housed six bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and five sea-lions (Zalophus californianus).

1976: SEAL KEEPER

Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Gweek, Cornwall

Centre for rehabilitation of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). Special responsibilities to maintain the sanctuary's multi-pool water treatment systems including the development of sea-water abstraction from a tidal estuary.

1975 - 1976: ZOO KEEPER

Municipal Zoological Gardens, Blackpool, Lancashire

General zoo stock husbandry. Training and presenting public feeding displays of a group of Patagonian (Otaria flavescens) and California sea-lions (Zalophus californianus).

1974 - 1975: DOLPHIN TRAINER

Entam Dolphinariums, Trust House Forte, Manchester

Training and presenting bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and sea-lions (Zalophus californianus) at the group's dolphinaria at Knowsley and Woburn Safari Parks.

1974: DOLPHIN TRAINER

Aquatic Mammal Enterprises, Cleethorpes Zoo, Humberside

Subcontracted by Queens Entertainment Ltd for Aquatic Mammal Enterprises of Florida to undertake the sole care and presentation of two bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at Cleethorpes Zoo and Marineland, Humberside for the 1974 summer season

Marine Mammals International, Royalty Theatre, London

Training and husbandry of two bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) for Marine Mammals International Ltd for the three-month run of Paul Raymond’s Royalty Folies.

1971 - 1974: DOLPHIN TRAINER

Queens Entertainments Ltd, Cliftonville, Margate, Kent

Training, husbandry and transportation of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and sea-lions (Zalophus californianus) for the groups Margate dolphinarium base (summer 1971) and various satellite shows at Skegness in Lincolnshire (summer 1972 and 1973) and winter touring in the midlands and north of England.

 

1970: TRAINEE AQUARIST

Seaquariums Ltd., East Croyden, Sussex

Part-time weekend work experience as a trainee aquarists for Graham Cox’s Seaquariums Ltd (Waterlife Research Industries). The company was an importer and retailer of tropical marine fish and also developed sea salts and prophylactics for marine aqua-culture.

An Introduction to Basic Water Treatment Protocols for Pinnipeds Exhibits. (1998). Presented at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park as part the Association of British Wild Animal Keepers Symposium '98.

Does the Carrot Need the Stick? Are aversive stimuli an obligatory component in the training and maintaining of behaviours in animals? (1997). Unpublished Dissertation: University of Bedfordshire.

Reintroducing Captive Dolphins into the Wild. (1994) International Zoo News, Volume 41/3, Number 252.

Dolphinarium Dilemma - Hard Fact or Hype. (1991) Ratel: Journal of the Association of British Wild Animal Keepers, Volume 18, Number 2.

Basic Techniques in Modern Animal Training. (1990) Ratel: Journal of the Association of British Wild Animal Keepers, Volume 17, Number 6.

Principles in Water Treatment in Aquatic Mammal Pools. (1990) International Zoo News, Volume 37/7, Number 224.

Kipper Goes Back To Sea - The Rehabilitation of a Grey Seal. (1982) Soundings: Journal of the International Marine Animal Trainers Association, Volume 7, Number 2.

Sea-Lion Breeding: Second Year at the Welsh Mountain Zoo. (1982) Aquatic Mammals, Volume 8, Number 3.

Operant Conditioning - A Tool in Zoo Animal Training and Husbandry. (1982) Ratel: Journal of the Association of British Wild Animal Keepers.

Water Quality in Marine Mammal Exhibtis. Panel Dissussion. (1981) The 9th Proceeding of the International Marine Animal Trianers Conference, New York, USA.

Water Treatment Systems in Small Volume Oceanaria. (1979) Soundings: Journal of the International Marine Animal Trainers Association, Volume 6, Number 2/3.

A Trainers Observations of the Birth and Development of a California Sea-Lion Pup. (1979) Aquatic Mammals, Volume 7, Number 3.

Marine Animal Welfare in Zoo & Aquariums site

These pages where designed and constructed by John Dineley.
The contents and photographs on this web site are copyright and may not be copied with out permission.