Penguins at Sea World..very upsetting **MNHQ correction - London Aquarium**

[Ihateboris]

I can't believe this isn't being discussed. Truly horrific.

www.itv.com/news/london/2025-10-19/protesters-call-for-release-of-penguins-trapped-in-basement-of-london-aquarium

It's horrible isn't it. Why on earth would anyone think that living in a basement without access to natural air or light is ok? To make money from these poor creatures.

It’s really sad isn’t it? I don’t understand why it’s only blown up now when they have been there for 15 years. Is it open to the public?
Those penguins need a better environment where they can have fresh air.

Apparently (I'm not saying I agree BTW) its better for them as its climate controlled.

I don't see it. If the climate isn't suitable for them to get fresh air they shouldn't be in captivity in this country.

It's really upset me...good on Fergal Sharkey for campaigning against it.

Yes it’s open to the public
There’s glass between the public and the penguins

Last time I saw them a few years back they looked utterly miserable staring at walls.

Its a disgrace and people have been complaining for years including myself

They need to be moved and Bristol are building a new zoo so would have had plenty of space. Yet nothing !!!

I don't understand how they've got away with it. We went in 2012 and those poor penguins ruined the day out. I was WTAF?!
I can't remember if I complained. I complain about most things.

I fully agree that they should not be kept in these conditions but its the Sea Life Aquarium not Sea World.

Sea World have there own issues and not somewhere I would visit due to how they treat their animals.

I have been there . I always assumed that it was the underwater part and that they had an outdoor section above . Really cruel.

I had no idea there were penguins there when we went to visit and wouldn't have gone if I'd known. I can't see any justification for keeping penguins like that.

and Chris Packham

He's had to put up with a lot of crap and hate attacks in the past as a result of his campaigning for animal welfare.

Oh God, that must have been so upsetting for you.

I was totally shocked when I read about this today.
I can't believe this has been going on for 15 years and I'd never heard about it .

London Aquarium not Sea World!

But yes it is almost unbelievable that they are allowed to keep them in these conditions.

Because it's all about the money. Greedy, cruel bastards.

How horrible. So sick of people just creaming money without any regard for the welfare of people or animals. It's disgusting.

I know...the greed and entitlement with not a second thought for the poor penguins. All so humans can be entertained and companies get rich!

This from August 2024. !!!!!

BBC Article

“ Penguins at the Sea Life London Aquarium are being kept captive with "no daylight, no fresh air, and just a pitiful pool of a few feet in depth", it has been claimed.
The wildlife charity Freedom for Animals has written an open letter calling on the attraction to release the colony of "exploited" gentoo penguins.

Its letter, signed by campaigners including Chris Packham, the presenter and conservationist, and water campaigner and singer Feargal Sharkey, argues the penguins should be moved from their "small basement" enclosure to a sanctuary.

Sea Life said the penguins' habitat had been created on the advice of specialist vets.

Other signatories include Ecotricity founder and Labour donor Dale Vince and 21 other campaigners.
The letter states: "Gentoo penguins are the strongest swimmers and the deepest divers of all birds, yet their enclosure offers just 182cm (6ft) to 213cm (7ft) of depth of water in which to dive a pitiful fraction of the 182m (600ft) they can dive to in the wild.
"They can swim at speeds of up to 35km/h (22mph) in the wild, but could never approach that in their London enclosure."
Gentoo penguins are classified as "near threatened".

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has said they are of a lesser concern, compared to other endangered species.

Freedom for Animals has urged the aquarium's parent company, Merlin Entertainments, to end all penguin breeding programmes, stop penguin exhibits and guarantee the move of their current penguins to an independently operated sanctuary.
A Sea Life spokesman said: "The gentoo penguin habitat at Sea Life London Aquarium was designed with help and advice from specialist vets.”

( clearly these so called specialist vets were bought off. )
As an architect with a Zoologist son there is nothing about this design that is for the benefit of the penguins and
everything!!!!!
about saving and making money

Thank you for sharing this. How utterly abhorrent.

I removed seeing the gentoo penguins as a child/preteen and finding it depressing. Just why?

It’s awful. I could be wrong as I haven’t been for ages but aren’t the penguins at Birmingham Sea Life kept in similar indoor conditions?

Yes, if I remember correctly, two chicks died. An organisation called Sea Lies did an undercover report.

Yes at both their Birmingham and London venues

Freedom for Animals are campaigning to get those in London moved first as it’s more well known in the hope the Birmingham ones are moved aswell.

They have been campaigning for all to be moved and to stop the breeding programmes which is the excuse used to keep them in the first place.

Of note captive bred penguins can never be released into the wild so their breeding programmes are purely to keep their zoo stocks …nothing more.

You can complain about captive penguins in London by contacting campaign groups like Freedom for Animals and the Born Free Foundation, signing petitions, emailing your Member of Parliament (MP), and submitting reports to animal welfare organizations. Other options include contacting the RSPCA, writing to local and national news outlets, and leaving online reviews.

Campaign and advocacy groups
Freedom for Animals:
Get involved with their campaigns, sign petitions, and contact your MP to support early day motions related to the issue. You can also take a pledge not to visit Merlin Entertainments attractions, which include Sea Life Aquariums.

Born Free Foundation:
Report concerns to them through their "Raise the Red Flag" form, which allows you to submit details and photos of the situation.

Contacting officials and the media
Your MP:
Write an email to your local Member of Parliament explaining your concerns and asking them to support relevant motions.

Local and national news:
Contact local and national newspapers and online news sites to share your story and raise public awareness.

RSPCA:
If you believe there is an animal in distress, ( including animals held in zoos ) contact the RSPCA's 24-hour emergency line at
tel:tel:03001234999 03001234999 tel:03001234999 03001234999
tel:tel:03001234999 03001234999 tel:03001234999 03001234999
.

Online actions and reviews
Petitions: Sign and share petitions related to the campaign to free the penguins.

Online reviews: Leave reviews on sites like TripAdvisor to voice your concerns and share your experience.

Hope you don’t mind me posting the info re raising awareness and complaining OP

Thanks for this thread 💐

( I have no idea why it’s all suddenly underlined ?? )

A penguin was allegedly trampled to death by visitors at the Birmingham centre. So sad 😢

Oh that's brilliant information..I shall be busy at my computer tomorrow.

They need to find them a cosy wildlife park to live in somewhere in the south of the UK. They won't be used to UV light or fluctuating temperatures at all will they ☹️.