‘Penguins being kept in a basement with no daylight or fresh air’
CAMPAIGNERS have called for the release of penguins held in an enclosure they describe as a “dungeon” without daylight or fresh air.
The colony of 15 Gentoo birds is housed in a “basement” at Sea Life London Aquarium, according to Freedom for Animals.
The group, which has launched a petition calling for their release into a sanctuary, claim the enclosure offers just seven feet of diving depth. This is a fraction of the 600ft the birds can dive to in the wild, they said.
Dr Andrew Kelly, director of Freedom for Animals, added:
“Sea Life London Aquarium has a tiny basement in which a colony of Gentoo penguins spend their lives.
“Its parent company, Merlin Entertainments, owns a number of tourist attractions including London Dungeon.
“But the real dungeon is the one defenceless animals are forced to inhabit every day, never seeing daylight or breathing fresh air.”
The charity says it has spoken to experts who said that keeping Gentoo penguins in captivity is of no value to the species.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population of the Gentoo penguin is 774,000 mature individuals. This species is classified as least concern on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers are stable. Dr Kelly said: “Sea Life’s Gentoo exhibit is a tourist attraction just like Merlin’s neighbouring London Eye, Shrek’s Adventure, and the London Dungeon. The only difference is that Sea Life London Aquarium is the only one that breeds living, feeling, sentient animals into existence to be exploited for profit.”
A Sea Life spokesman disputed the group’s claims and said: “The welfare of all the animals at Sea Life is of paramount importance to us and we are committed to delivering the highest levels of care by our team of experts. The Gentoo penguin habitat was designed with help and advice from specialist vets.
“It offers a consistent and appropriate temperature and lighting that stimulates the penguins’ annual moulting, nesting and breeding patterns.
“The air is constantly filtered to ensure the penguins are protected from pollution or airborne diseases, such as avian flu.
“The very specific needs and high standards of Gentoo penguins mean they will only breed if they are content in their environment.
“The annual nesting success of the colony is an important sign that they are comfortable and confident in their surroundings.”
To sign the petition, visit freedomforanimals.org.uk