London Aquarium owner pledges to phase out gentoo penguins at UK facilities
The owner of Sea Life London Aquarium has pledged to phase out gentoo penguins from all its UK facilities, marking a significant victory for wildlife campaigners.
Merlin Entertainments has announced that it will combine the 14 penguins currently based in London with the 17 penguins in Birmingham.
This combined colony will live in a new, improved habitat with natural light and significantly more water space. Merlin also vowed to permanently stop breeding these birds after two days of intense debate last week.
The decision follows a campaign by activists who have long criticized the state of penguins at the London aquarium. They are kept in a closed basement with no access to fresh air or natural daylight.
Animal Liberation, the Born Free Foundation, the Daily Express, Members of Parliament and the public were among those who joined the call for improved welfare; Some advocated taking the penguins outdoors.
Merlin, one of the world’s largest aquarium operators, has said it will approve the full proposal for improved housing by September, likely at the London Aquarium. Both Animal Freedom and Born Free will be consulted on the design before a final decision is made.
A Merlin Entertainments spokesperson confirmed that the firm “plans to combine two UK gentoo colonies into a single, improved home with significantly expanded water area and natural light, permanently ending gentoo breeding in both the London and Birmingham areas.”
The move comes after months of collaboration with a range of experts, including Animals Freedom, the Born Free Foundation, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), a wild penguin researcher, a veterinarian and the Association of British and Irish Zoos and Aquariums (Biaza).
Acknowledging that some stakeholders wanted the gentoo penguins to be moved to an outdoor facility or a newly created sanctuary, Merlin thought this was unrealistic.
The company stated: “Although there are a small number of potentially suitable outdoor venues in the UK, any move beyond Merlin facilities would undermine our ability to deliver on our commitment to permanently stop breeding.”
They added that the significant complexities and resources required for a sanctuary that offers excellent welfare throughout the animals’ lifespan make this an unsustainable option.
Instead, the group focused on developing “a clear, science-driven path to continue improving the habitat of gentians in Merlin’s care and contributing to greater conservation research and visitor education for these species.” Merlin emphasized his deep interest in penguins and said the decision was made following a robust consultation process with significant expert input.
