The controversial indoor penguin enclosure at the Sea Life London Aquarium will close within the next two years, following a prolonged campaign by animal welfare groups and MPs.
Owners Merlin Entertainments announced that work will begin in 2027 on an “enhanced” enclosure at the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham, where the gentoo penguin colonies from both venues will be combined. The birds are expected to move into their new home in 2028, and the London gentoo habitat will then close.
Campaign Success
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 better conditions for the penguins, which were housed without access to fresh air or daylight.
Talks between owners, campaigners, and experts began in December last year after 75 MPs joined animal welfare activists in calling for the release of the penguins “trapped in a basement without sunlight or fresh air” at the riverside aquarium near Parliament.
New Habitat Details
Merlin Entertainments earlier said it would merge the 14 penguins in London with the 17 in Birmingham into a single colony, with a new habitat featuring natural light and more water space. It also committed to ending the breeding of gentoo penguins at its UK facilities.
The new enclosure, designed with input from an expert in wild penguins, will be much bigger and benefit from natural light and seasonal variations. The company said it “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.”
Future Plans
The facility will also aim to become a research centre to support gentoo conservation in the wild. Formal plans will be submitted to the local authority shortly, and, subject to approval, work will start in 2027. The penguins are expected to move during 2028, with exact timings guided by their needs, and the London space will be repurposed to support Sea Life’s conservation priorities.
Dr Mark Jones, head of policy at The Born Free Foundation, said: “It has been quite a journey. From the much-criticised basement environment in London to a significantly expanded and environmentally enriched enclosure in Birmingham – but nearly a year of careful and thoughtful discussion has paid off. Because of Merlin’s commitment to end breeding, this will be the last generation of gentoo penguins in Merlin’s care. 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, added that the end to further breeding or imports of the penguins – which are not threatened with extinction in the wild – will mean no more individuals will be born into a life of captivity, and the current birds will be the last gentoos in Merlin’s facilities.
Laura Walton, co-director of Freedom for Animals, welcomed the closure. She said: “Throughout our joint campaign, we called for the penguins to be moved to a sanctuary or facility with outdoor access, but sadly no feasible option was identified. While the planned improvements at Sea Life Birmingham are positive, these penguins deserve far more than a lifetime behind barriers. Crucially, Merlin’s landmark commitment to end breeding means no further generations of gentoo penguins will be born into captivity at its facilities.”
