Hope for London Aquarium penguins which are ‘trapped in basement with no daylight or contemporary air’
A colony of 15 gentoo penguins housed in a London Aquarium basement could be relocated after a campaign to release them.
Tens of thousands of members of the public, MPs and animal welfare activists, including Springwatch presenter Chris Packham, have called for the birds to be rehomed.
They are currently kept in an enclosure without access to fresh air or daylight.
But Merlin Entertainments, which runs the Sea Life London Aquarium on the South Bank, said it will publish a plan for the penguins’ future by the end of May.
A spokesman said on Monday: ‘We’re in intensive, science-backed discussions with independent experts to determine best next steps.
‘We all agree that no change is not an option and are together looking at the risks and opportunities associated with relocating the penguins, as an alternative to making further improvements to their habitat.’
The ‘Free the 15’ campaign has been backed by more than 70 MPs and public figures, while a petition calling for the penguins to be moved to a better home has received almost 50,000 signatures from members of the public.
Welfare activists had raised concerns over the birds’ treatment in January after penguin breeding was paused at the aquarium.
Aquarium bosses said the 15 gentoo penguins at the London attraction could be relocated
Conservationist and TV presenter Chris Packham protested against the penguin enclosure in October
Aquarists and penguins at the Sea Life London Aquarium during the annual ‘count and clean’ in December 2022
Merlin Entertainments said at the time that the breeding programme remained paused after ‘challenging’ conversations.
It had previously claimed its team of animal welfare specialists and aquarists cared for the penguins in their enclosure every day to make sure they were healthy and thriving, and the enclosure was on the ground floor and not the basement.
And in November the company’s welfare and education team spokesperson said the enclosure replicated the penguins’ natural habitat, meaning they were healthier there than outdoors.
They said: ‘This includes climate-controlled temperature and filtered fresh air to ensure they remain healthy.
‘These conditions can’t easily be replicated outdoors, creating a potential risk to their health.
‘Releasing them into the wild simply isn’t a safe option for these penguins, who have always lived in human care.’
The spokesperson added: ‘We recognise that some groups and individuals feel strongly that a different approach is needed. We hear that and we respect it.
‘And that’s why we’re taking steps to broaden the conversation.
‘We’re doing this through conversations with a diverse mix of people who have raised concerns, because we genuinely want to listen, learn and understand their perspectives.
‘As part of this, we will welcome constructive ideas – and carefully consider the practical implications of any suggestions.’
The British theme park giant owns attractions including Alton Towers, Legoland Windsor, Madame Tussauds, Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures.
