The owner of the Sea Life London Aquarium has committed to phasing out gentoo penguins from all its UK facilities, marking a significant victory for wildlife campaigners.
New Habitat and Breeding Ban
Merlin Entertainments has announced it will merge the 14 penguins currently housed in London with the 17 at its Birmingham site. This combined colony will reside in a new, enhanced habitat featuring natural light and substantially more water space. Merlin has also pledged to permanently cease the breeding of these birds following two days of intensive discussions last week.
Campaigner Pressure
This decision comes after a sustained campaign by activists who have long criticised the conditions for the penguins at the London aquarium. They are kept in an indoor basement enclosure, lacking access to fresh air or natural daylight. Freedom for Animals, the Born Free Foundation, the Daily Express, Members of Parliament, and members of the public were among those who joined the call for improved welfare, with some advocating for the penguins to be moved outdoors.
Merlin, one of the world’s largest aquarium operators, stated it would confirm a full proposal for the improved enclosure by September, indicating it would likely be based at the London Aquarium. Both Freedom for Animals and Born Free will be consulted on the design before a final decision is reached.
Company Commitment
A Merlin Entertainments spokeswoman confirmed the firm "intends to merge its two UK gentoo colonies into a single, enhanced home, with significantly enlarged water space, and natural light; and permanently end gentoo breeding at both London and Birmingham sites". This move followed months of collaboration with various experts, including Freedom for Animals, the Born Free Foundation, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), a wild penguin researcher, a veterinarian, and the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (Biaza).
Sanctuary Deemed Unrealistic
While acknowledging that some stakeholders wished for the gentoo penguins to be moved to an outdoor facility or a newly created sanctuary, Merlin deemed this unrealistic. The company stated: "While there are a small number of potentially suitable outside locations in the UK, any move beyond Merlin sites removes our ability to honour the commitment we have made to stop breeding permanently." They added that the significant complexities and resources required for a sanctuary offering excellent welfare across the animals’ lifespan made it an unviable option.
Instead, the group focused on developing a "clear, science-led path to continue to enhance the habitat for the gentoos in Merlin’s care, while contributing to further conservation research and visitor education for this species." Merlin emphasised its deep care for the penguins, stating the decision was reached through a robust consultative process with significant expert input.
