Protests Erupt over Penguin Welfare at London Sea Life Aquarium
LONDON - A growing chorus of animal welfare advocates and British lawmakers are calling for improved living conditions for gentoo penguins at the sea Life London Aquarium, sparking protests and a petition garnering over 40,000 signatures. Concerns center on the suitability of the aquarium’s enclosure for the penguins’ long-term health and well-being.
The campaign, initiated by the U.K. charity Freedom for Animals in February 2024, gained momentum last month with a protest outside the aquarium and increased scrutiny from Members of Parliament. Activists allege the penguins are being kept in an inadequate surroundings,prompting calls for their relocation to a more suitable facility.
Freedom for Animals argues against the captivity of animals in zoos, aquariums, mobile zoos, and circuses. The institution’s petition asks theme park operator Merlin Entertainments, wich owns the aquarium, to guarantee the “safe and permanent retirement of the penguins” to an environment better suited to their needs.
Some experts suggest certain gentoo penguin subspecies may struggle to thrive outdoors in the U.K.due to the risk of fungal infections. However, Merlin Entertainments maintains the penguin enclosure, located on the ground floor of the aquarium, is “carefully designed to reflect important elements of the penguins’ natural environment as closely as possible to ensure good health, including climate-controlled temperature and filtered fresh air.”
The company also stated the enclosure utilizes technology to simulate seasonal lighting changes and is subject to regular inspections by independent veterinarians and local and national authorities.
“This is a complex issue,” Merlin entertainments said in a statement to NBC News. “There’s a lot to consider,and we take every decision seriously,always guided by what’s best for the animals. We’re open. We’re listening. And we’ve always done what’s right for our animals based on expert advice and their individual needs. That’s a commitment we stand by.”
