A lonely penguin in the basement. The animals can swim 22 km a day, Here the have a bath tub to swim in.
The MPs, who span the political divide, have come together to demand action for the fifteen gentoo penguins confined in the basement of Sea Life London Aquarium. https://www.asoc.org/learn/gentoo-penguins/
The group, spearheaded by Labour MP David Taylor and Liberal Democrat MP and veterinarian Danny Chambers MP, has written an open letter to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, calling for an independent review into the penguins’ welfare and urging that, if conditions are found wanting, the gentoos should be relocated to a facility that better meets their physical and psychological needs.
Sea Life London Aquarium currently has a colony of 15 gentoo penguins who are housed in a basement.
Many of these animals have been there for their entire lives and, without compassionate intervention to secure their release, they may never see the light of day. Gentoo penguins are the strongest swimmers and the deepest divers of all birds, yet their enclosure offers just 6-7 feet of depth in which to dive - a pitiful fraction of the 600ft they can dive to in the wild.
They are a small colony, in a tiny enclosure, that does not meet their physical and social needs and does not allow them to enjoy their natural behaviours. Added to this, the constant public observation and noise has the capacity to cause serious stress and adverse health effects.
The breeding programmes that Sea Life is undertaking with this species is very clearly not motivated by conservation, but simply to provide generations of unconsenting exhibits for an exploitative attraction. It is clear the incarceration and breeding of penguins, a species beloved by many, for no other reason than profiting from their exhibition, is not something in which a modern and progressive business should be engaged.
We ask that Merlin Entertainments immediately ends all penguin breeding programmes, permanently stops the exhibition of penguins, and guarantees the safe and permanent retirement of the penguins at the London Sea Life Aquarium to a facility that can provide a much more suitable environment. This should be a genuine sanctuary independently operated by a recognised and respected welfare and conservation organisation. We encourage Merlin to provide funding to facilitate the retirement and lifetime care of the penguins.
The move represents a significant moment in the growing ‘Free the 15!’ campaign, launched by Freedom for Animals and supported by Born Free and the Daily Express, and comes less than a month after the largest show of public support to date.
On Sunday 19th October, hundreds of protestors were joined by naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham, environmental campaigner and musician Feargal Sharkey, conservationist and wildlife presenter Megan McCubbin and green energy entrepreneur Dale Vince, in a mass demonstration outside Sea Life London Aquarium, all backing the campaign which has now secured more than 40,000 petition signatures.
Sign the petition
The open letter has been sent to Emma Reynolds MP, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, calling for:
- An independent welfare assessment of the penguin enclosure at Sea Life London, involving independent external veterinary and zoological experts
- Evaluation of the facility’s compliance with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and Standards of Modern Zoo Practice, including upcoming 2027 revisions
- Consideration of relocating the penguins to a more appropriate environment aligned with their behavioural and ecological needs
- Publication of the findings to maintain public trust and transparency
The letter emphasises that this is “not an adversarial request”, recognising the Government’s strong record on animal welfare and urging DEFRA to uphold the UK’s global reputation as a leader in the compassionate treatment of animals.
Signatories include MPs from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, the DUP, and Independents, demonstrating a broad political and public consensus on this significant animal welfare issue.
David Taylor MP, Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead and letter coordinator said: “It’s un-British to keep penguins trapped in a basement with no daylight or fresh air. No animal should live like that, with their rights appearing to be traded for hard cash. I’m proud to have supported this campaign, led by the Express, by helping to bring together more than 70 MPs and peers to urge the Government to step in. I’ve also written directly to the boss of Merlin to pile on the pressure. Labour has always stood up for animals, and we won’t stop until these penguins get the life they deserve.”
Veterinarian Danny Chambers MP, Liberal Democrat MP for Winchester and letter coordinator said: “It is utterly unacceptable that 15 Gentoo penguins are being kept in a cramped, windowless room at London’s Sea Life Aquarium. They are denied fresh air, natural light and the space they need to thrive. These conditions are a world away from their Antarctic home.
“As a vet, I understand how important it is for animals to be able to behave naturally to avoid experiencing mental distress – and it’s painfully clear that these penguins are suffering. For the aquarium to claim that these conditions are acceptable shows they have no understanding of the basic needs of the animals under their care. The Liberal Democrats are calling on DEFRA to launch an urgent, independent review. If welfare standards are not being met, these remarkable birds must be moved to a home they deserve, one that meets their basic physical and mental needs.”
Chris Lewis, Born Free’s Captivity Research & Policy Manager, said: “By law, licensed zoos within the UK must provide environments that meet the “physical, psychological and social needs” of the species that they keep. How a windowless basement with a small pool meets the needs of the 15 gentoo penguins at Sea Life London is highly questionable and we welcome the call from MPs across Parliament for an independent review into the conditions these penguins currently have to endure.”
Laura Walton, co-director at Freedom for Animals added, “Captivity is not conservation. The 15 Gentoo penguins held captive underground at Sea Life London are denied sunlight, deep water to dive in, and the space they need to thrive as nature intended. They never even get to look up at the sky, or feel the wind on their face – how can we call ourselves a compassionate society while allowing such cruelty? We’re encouraged to see so many concerned MPs signing the open letter demanding their release. They know, as we do, that the time for Merlin Entertainments to free the fifteen is long overdue!”
Complete solo or with friends
