The gentoo penguin enclosure at Sea Life London Aquarium, which has faced criticism for lacking access to fresh air and daylight, is set to close in 2028. The birds will be relocated to a larger, enhanced habitat at the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham.
Merlin Entertainments, the owner of both venues, announced that work on the new enclosure will begin in 2027, combining the gentoo penguin colonies currently housed in London and Birmingham. The penguins are expected to move into their new home during 2028, after which the London habitat will close.
Campaign for Better Conditions
The decision follows a high-profile campaign by Freedom for Animals, the Born Free Foundation, the Daily Express, MPs, and members of the public, who urged the company to improve conditions for the penguins. Talks between the owners, campaigners, and experts began in December last year after 75 MPs joined animal welfare activists in calling for the release of the penguins, described as “trapped in a basement without sunlight or fresh air” at the riverside aquarium near Parliament.
Earlier this year, Merlin Entertainments said it would merge the 14 penguins in London with the 17 housed in Birmingham into a single colony, with a new habitat featuring natural light and more water space. The company also committed to ending the breeding of gentoo penguins at its UK facilities.
New Habitat Details
The new enclosure, designed with input from an expert in wild penguins, will be significantly larger and benefit from natural light and seasonal variations. According to Merlin Entertainments, the habitat “will provide a dynamic and complex environment with seasonal variations both above and below the water for the animals, reflecting aspects of natural weather conditions.”
“There will be land and water areas which are anticipated to be double the size of those in the existing London habitat, along with a longer pool. In addition, an expanded ‘deep end’ of the pool will be created, offering over three times the space currently provided in both London and Birmingham,” the company said.
Reactions and Future Plans
The Born Free Foundation welcomed the move, with head of policy Dr Mark Jones stating: “Common sense and compassion have prevailed, the welfare of the penguins has been prioritised, and Born Free looks forward to continuing to engage with this project to help deliver the best possible outcome for the birds.”
Will Travers, executive president of Born Free, noted that the end to breeding or imports of the penguins, which are not threatened with extinction in the wild, means the current birds will be the last gentoos in Merlin’s facilities. Laura Walton, co-director of Freedom for Animals, also welcomed the closure, saying: “Crucially, Merlin’s landmark commitment to end breeding means no further generations of gentoo penguins will be born into captivity at its facilities.”
Merlin Entertainments will shortly submit formal plans to the local authority, and subject to approval, work will start in 2027. The exact timing of the penguins’ move will be guided by their needs, and the London space will be repurposed to support Sea Life’s conservation priorities.
