The Perfect Pair Dolphin Trilogy Book Series Authors' Blog

THE PERFECT PAIR DOLPHIN TRILOGY’S TRAINER CHALLENGES 'A REVIEW OF DOLPHINARIA' BY KLINOWSKA AND BROWN

16/1/2023

I'M THROUGH PUSSYFOOTING AROUND!
With all the recent publicity surrounding the South Elmsall secret training pool, this is as good a time as any to put the record straight. As the former head trainer featured in The Perfect Pair Dolphin Trilogy book series, I learned my craft at this West Yorkshire location. It’s time that both public and activists knew the TRUE facts, so here they are laid out for all to read.

The pool was owned by John Nolan, a well-respected water-filtration engineer and a man considered to be well ahead of his time in his field.
The facility was leased to Entam Leisure, a subsidiary of the international conglomerate, The Trust House Forte group.
The first dolphins to arrive at the South Elmsall facility were Duchess and Herb’e (aka Flippa), more affectionately known as the Perfect Pair.
The second shipment of dolphins consisted of Scouse (blinded during a botched transport), Baby Dai (an illegally imported infant), Stumpy (deemed too sick to train) and Bubbles (transported whilst in shock and rumoured to have met a dubious end).
All the above dolphins shared the facility with a California sea Lion named Bobby (covertly shipped from Manchester Belle Vue Zoological Gardens following a catastrophic attack on a member of the public) and two Humboldt penguins named Smelly and Worse.
The existence of the South Elmsall training facility has now been recognised by its inclusion in Jonathan Straight’s museum exhibition, Faces of South Elmsall, giving the South Elmsall Atlantean detainees a voice at last.

DAVID CAPELLO, HEAD TRAINER:
THE TRAINER THE UK CETA CHARITIES WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE NEVER EXISTED.

The credits of David C Holroyd (stage name David Capello), the first trainer to graduate from the South Elmsall facility:

Opened onstage the premiere dolphin show at Knowsley Safari Park Dolphinarium with a young Duchess and Herb’e.
Opened onstage the premiere dolphin show at Woburn Abbey Safari Park Dolphinarium with Bonnie and Clyde.
Performed onstage the Royal Show at Woburn Abbey Safari Park Dolphinarium, exclusively for the Duke of Bedford, his titled guests and selected members of the press.
Became head trainer for Entam Leisure overseeing training programmes for Knowsley Safari Park, Woburn Abbey and Rhyl dolphinaria.
Offered Europe’s then only captive orca, Ramu III, by Gary Smart (Billy Smart’s Circus) at Windsor Safari Park.
The only UK trainer known to employ the connection mind-training technique.
The only UK trainer to achieve the Shadow Ballet (series of somersaults).
Entam Leisure’s only dolphin hand-catcher and trouble-shooter.

I PUBLICLY CHALLENGE THE KLINOWSKA AND BROWN REPORT!

This official Government-commissioned report on UK dolphinaria did not name several of the early South Elmsall dolphins. The records of those it did name were riddled with inaccuracies, ie dates of arrival, dates and places of death. Why?

Why did such a vital piece of work close its eyes to the memory of these sad but magnificent Atlantean performers?

Could it be that those who supplied the information had a different agenda? Could it be that, such was their shame surrounding the treatment of the Entam dolphins, those involved chose to cover up the existence of certain dolphins, whilst falsifying the records of others?

I strongly believe this to be the case because the vast amount of information submitted to the researchers was presented by the captive cetacean industry itself. By this, I mean those people who worked for the UK aqua circus, ie owners, vets and animal celebrities who went on to build lucrative careers on the back of dolphin suffering.

WHY DID THE UK CHARITIES CHOOSE TO BLACKLIST CAPELLO'S VITAL EXPOSE?

I refer you back to my last comment: animal celebrities who went on to build lucrative careers on the back of dolphin suffering.

As most people are now aware, the villain of The Perfect Pair Dolphin Trilogy exposé was a character named Tommy Backhouse (a fictitious name designed to avoid legal problems at the time of publication).

Tommy Backhouse’s true name was Terry Nutkins, Entam’s then general manager. He became a famous 1980s presenter of animal programmes (most notably Animal Magic and The Really Wild Show). He was also known to several charities because of his work with cetaceans and his links to naturalist and author, Gavin Maxwell - just one of the MANY reasons that might explain the UK ceta charities’ stubborn reluctance to support The Perfect Pair Dolphin Trilogy exposé.

However, what cannot be explained is why a UK ceta charity director, Margaux Dodds of Marine Connection and Dolphinaria-Free Europe, covertly tried to discredit the exposé, asking other charity directors NOT to support it – a shameful stifling of the truth that, to my mind, has cost the lives of many captive dolphins.

So, there you have it: a web of skulduggery to maintain a cover-up that was hatched by the UK captive industry over 50 years ago - sadly, a mantle that the ceta charities have happily taken up. This well-orchestrated ghosting has now failed BIG-TIME thanks to photographer and entrepreneur Jonathan Straight’s South Elmsall museum exhibition - not forgetting the brave journalism of the Yorkshire press, who have each done their bit in getting out the truth about the existence of South Elmsall’s secret pool. Their coverage has helped to give the ill-fated South Elmsall dolphins a voice.

So, thank you The Yorkshire Post, Wakefield Express, Pontefract and Castleford Express and all those smaller online media outlets who took this story to their hearts.

To finish, as the former trainer of all the dolphins mentioned above, I am sorely aware that I cannot undo my wrongs. However, I can shine a light on the truth – a truth that has been so long denied to ceta activists globally.

Thus, I dedicate this blog to my precious Atlanteans: Duchess, Herb’e, Scouse, Baby Dai, Stumpy, Bubbles, Big Mama, Eccles, Twinkle, Bonnie, Clyde and all those other innocents who followed. Please forgive!

Thanks for reading. I WILL answer all questions and comments addressed to this blog.

David C Holroyd, aka David Capello, former head trainer, Entam Leisure, Trusthouse Forte.

Click on the links below to read more about the South Elmsall dolphin-training pool.

South Elmsall Stories - The Dolphinarium (facesofsouthelmsall.com)

Dolphins in a West Yorkshire swimming pool | Faces of South Elmsall | Jonathan Straight - YouTube

The Perfect Pair Dolphin Trilogy Book Series Authors' Blog

7 Comments

Tracy J Holroyd link

17/1/2023 11:54:54

An excellent blog, but I would like to make comment about one of the authors of A Review of Dolphinaria, Dr Margaret Klinowska.

You have always suggested that the catalogue of inaccuracies in the report was down to manipulation of the facts by the captive industry – especially when speaking about your Entam dolphins. Bearing that in mind, I recently viewed a YouTube video, which was an excerpt from a 1991 BBC nature series, Must the show go on? In it, Dr Klinowska speaks about her findings when researching for the report, and comments on research carried out by others.

Surprisingly, for an academic, she speaks of ‘data’, but neglects to give details of how it was collected and by whom. She delivers woolly, unsubstantiated conclusions, which she uses to try to justify the keeping of dolphins in captivity. She speaks of (what sounded like) a limited physiological study of dolphins but makes no mention of studies into the psychological damage suffered by captive dolphins in general.

The conclusion of the report advised that the captive environment for cetaceans should be upgraded, but it didn’t advise that cetaceans should not be kept in captivity.

Knowing what we do about cetacean captivity, this was a heavily flawed piece of research. I suspect that Klinowska had indeed been seduced by the pro-captivity propagandists, as you suggest in your blog, and that the report was heavily influenced by her preconceptions … and even more by her gullibility.

David Capello link

17/1/2023 15:05:08

Thanks for commenting, Tracy. As most ceta activists know, the Klinowska and Brown report signalled the end of the UK aqua circus, proving what I have always said about the companies that ran these so-called entertainment venues: dolphin welfare comes a very poor second to making money!

I say this because, in truth, it was the UK captive dolphin industry’s refusal to implement the recommendations of the Klinowska and Brown report due to financial costs that eventually brought it down. You can add to that the high mortality rate suffered by captive UK dolphins; living company assets that were becoming hugely expensive to replace.

On a good point, despite what I deem to be her pro-captivity sympathies, her report and recommendations proved to be a hammer blow to a UK industry that should have been consigned to history a decade before.

Wendy Raynor

20/1/2023 15:01:15

I've never made a comment on one of your blogs before, because I'm not an animal activist, but I am a huge fan of your dolphin books. So I can well understand your disappointment and frustration at the lack of support from UK charities, as I would have thought that they would have jumped at the chance to expose the terrible treatment dished out to your Entam dolphins. But what I find even more shameful is that a UK charity director actually went out to try and discredit your story. Why would she do that, David?

David Capello link

20/1/2023 16:27:24

Why indeed, Wendy? Why would Margaux Dodds and her then cohort Gaye Hunter dedicate so much of their time trying to discredit me and my expose, when they could have spent their valuable time saving dolphins? A question you would need to ask them. However, I have my own theories:

Could it be that these self-professed cetacean experts feared the arrival of someone who has actually worked hands-on with captive dolphins and knows the industry inside out?

Could it be that they were afraid that I would set up a rival charity to relieve well-meaning activists of their hard-earned cash?

Who knows? However, what I do know is that it was their poison that turned the UK charities against this expose, which was a shame, as The Perfect Pair Dolphin Trilogy was never produced to threaten the charities. It was done to work alongside the charities; to help spread their message about the horrors of the aqua circus.

Thanks for commenting, Wendy, and a huge thank you for supporting my story.

Tracy J Holroyd link

22/1/2023 10:12:53

As the co-author of these award-winning books, and someone who has contributed money to animal rights charities since the age of 10, I wanted to reply to this comment. We seriously believe that the blocking perpetrated by the charities and their activist supporters is down to professional jealousy. It galls me that the pro-cap elements that were attacking us were able to cease their heinous activities and leave it all to the anti-cap elements instead. All our trouble came from Margaux Dodds' clique. This charity director has her sticky fingers in many pies.

But for those who envy David Capello's uncanny ability to bond with the cetacean mind, and envy his time working closely with these magical beings, please remember that the whole experience proved horrific for Capello himself. Three nervous breakdowns and mental scars that will remain with him forever.

Just thank God that it wasn't YOU!

Craig Nico

5/2/2023 11:03:11

The South Elmsall facility.

No matter where you turn, this "secret" UK dolphin training center always comes up. This is the facility that has been surrounded by controversy for years!!! Once a well-guarded secret, but a secret no more...

For years, I have heard and read about the unspeakable horrors associated with this pool - the torture many beautiful Atlanteans endured year after year. This is definitely something that resonates with me.

I have read The Perfect Pair Dolphin Trilogy twice. I have read about the dolphins:

• Stumpy - the nicest dolphin who was tragically doomed from the beginning.
• Baby Dai – the illegally transported infant.
• Scouse - blinded during a botched transport from the US to the UK.
• Bubbles – the one who broke my heart. Bubbles was subjected to so many horrible force feeds, and, if that wasn’t bad enough, her death was definitely (we'll use the word) "questionable".
• Then, there was the top performing pair: Duchess and Herb’e, AKA The Perfect Pair. The atrocities they endured and their tragic deaths. The horror of the price they (and others) paid cannot be expressed in words. Every time I think about them, I am crushed.
• Then, of course, we mustn’t forget the California sea lion Bobby and the penguins Smelly and Worse.

Keep in mind, much of the torture inflicted on these dolphins happened before they even arrived at the South Elmsall facility (capture, transport, etc). That's where the real nightmare began, and it never ended until each and every one of them tragically died – and way too soon.

I can attest to the fact that David is speaking the truth when it comes to story blocking by the charities. To my horror, I discovered that these (let me go with) “anti-charities”, by their actions, are covertly supporting the aqua circus. Let’s face it, the continuation of the captive industry is vitally important to them, because fighting it is how they make their money. Their appeals tell us what we want to hear, but once they’ve got our money, their pathetic inaction and efforts to undermine whistle-blowers like David only further promote the abuse.

I myself have reached out to several charities about David Capello’s expose. The result??

• PETA blocked me on all social media once I started asking questions.
• I then reached out to the WWF, only to be stonewalled by them as well. Not even a single reply.
• When I questioned Marine Connection, I was told a plethora of lies and, later, ignored.
• I even reached out to Lorena López, a former dolphin trainer whistle-blower. I found her interesting because the World Animal Protection org. website said: "Documentary: former dolphin trainer reveals hidden cruelty behind the industry. An ex-trainer explains how the captive dolphin industry misleads tourists about animal cruelty." I immediately thought, "BAM! this is it!!! This is perfect!!! This is what David Capello has been constantly talking about, and now another trainer is exposing the truth in another country. What could possibly go wrong?” I reached out to them, and their response was, "We'll get back to you". I received that same response about five times, then they just flat out ignored me. I later found out that this charity once contacted David asking him to join their campaign against the aqua-circus, then – with no explanation - they dropped him!

If memory serves me correctly, it all points back to Margaux Dodds of Marine Connection, who is VERY close to this charity – amongst others. David had no falling out with this org., but it is UK-based, which was bound to cause trouble because of his continuing conflict with the UK charities.

So, who are the major players involved in the blocking? Is it the late Terry Nutkins’ supporters and past work colleagues? Is it Margaux Dodds, the director of Marine Connection? Could it be Ric O'Barry? He claims to be an American activist, but if you knew the truth about him, you would know he's anything but.

David Capello has always said that he would be willing to debate and prove everything he is saying, yet all these anti-charities want nothing to do with him and seem afraid of getting involved in any discussion. I'm assuming that they think if they remain silent, David will just go away, but I truly believe there are many activists like me who won’t allow that to happen.

So, let's fast forward to 2022. To my mind, the South Elmsall museum exhibit is extremely important because this is where the proof of David’s story can be seen - the very proof that so many HOPED had been destroyed long ago. Well, now it's there for everyone to see! The day this exhibit opened was the day that everyone should have finally believed everything David had been saying. That was the day of validation for Capello.

David, I love that you literally blew the lid wide open on the who's who!

David Capello aka David C Holroyd link

5/2/2023 12:03:25

Wow, Nico! Where to start answering your mammoth comment! You have touched on so many aspects of this blog.

First, you are spot-on regarding the West Yorkshire museum exhibit. The Perfect Pair Dolphin Trilogy book series’ inclusion in this project has officially validated my expose and the existence of the South Elmsall training facility. Even better, it has given a voice to those early, ill-fated dolphins whom activists have grown to love. It has also clarified the mishmash of half-truths that the UK charities have been promoting about the South Elmsall facility on their websites. So, for those of you who demand to know the truth about this secret training pool, please read the blog – because I was THERE! I am the ONE whistle-blower who experienced FIRST-HAND what happened behind the closed doors of this facility - not a self-professed charity expert playing guessing games to extort money from cash-strapped activists.

As for PETA, the charity that refused to answer you, then blocked you, don’t take it personally. The blocking of activists who ask embarrassing questions is common policy with these orgs. Most charities will do this, as I’m sure many of those reading this comment can testify. Sadly, most of those who run these money-making orgs care only for profit … none worse than those in the UK; a collective clique that houses the same names over and over again; names such as the esteemed Margaux Dodds.

You also mentioned the ceta celebrities, those who have made a lucrative living off the back of dolphin suffering. People like Ric O’Barry. (My opinion of this man is well-known.) Also the late BBC presenter, Terry Nutkins – a person I worked with for the best part of three years. A psychopath who cared for nothing but his own ego, and who openly admitted having no love for dolphins. I could go on, but there is little point.

I’ve given the activist camp an expose that, if supported, could close the aqua circus. It’s up to them whether or not they act on it.

Thank you again for your tremendous comment, Nico, and for your unwavering support over the years.

David Capello, aka David C Holroyd

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THE PERFECT PAIR DOLPHIN TRILOGY’S TRAINER CHALLENGES 'A REVIEW OF DOLPHINARIA' BY KLINOWSKA AND BROWN

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