2006 - CURRENT ZOO CONSULTANT.
Currently based in London and undertaking consultancy work on animal training and behaviour and the installation, design and husbandry of aquatic animals.
2005 - Lake Alaotra 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 fulltime Zoo Manager and relinquished role as Curator of Animal Behaviour.
2003 - Aquatics Room. Animal Centre. Shuttleworth Colleg
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 ultra-violet 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 is currently displayed on my internet web site. My degree was successfully completed and awarded in July 1997. Bedford College and the Unversity of Luton have now become the University of Bedfordshire.
1996: Sea Lion Bay, Chessington World of Adventures, Surrey.
1991: Ria and Markus at Woburn Safari Park, Bedfodrshire.
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 colourmetic water analysis. From the summer season of 1989 undertook cover presentation of a group of trained macaws (Ara sp.).
1979: Salty, the first successful birth of a California sealion at the Welsh Mountain Zoo, Colwyn Bay.
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: Dolfirama, Zandvoort, Holland
1977: DOLPHIN/SEA-LION TRAINER
Assistant Head Trainer to a large Dutch dolphinarium. This large facility housed six bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and five sea-lions (Zalophus californianus).
1976: Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Gweek, Cornwall.
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: Blackpool Zoo's 200,000 gallon sea lion pool
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: Knowsley Safari Park's dolphinarium near Liverpool.
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:Cleethorpes Zoo and Marineland, Humberside
1974: DOLPHIN TRAINER
Aquatic Mammal Enterprises, Cleethorpes Zoo, Humberside
Sub-contracted by Queens Entertainments 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
1974: The dolphins at The Royalty Theatre in London
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.
1973: Tina and Pebbles at Skegness Dolphinarium.
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.
1972: Touring with Tina and Sonny
1971: Margate dolphinarium
1970: TRAINEE AQUARIST
Seaquariums Ltd., East Croyden, Sussex
Part-time week-end 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.
Some of the below
papers are available on-line.
Click the high-lighted blue hyperlink to access full text.
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.
Zoos and the Trojan Dolphin? (1994) Ratel: Journal of the Association of British Wild Animal Keepers, Volume 21, Number 2
The Performing Orca - Why the Show Must Go On! (1992) Ratel: Journal of the Association of British Wild Animal Keepers, Volume 19, Number 4.
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.
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by John Dineley.
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