Birdgirl demands penguins’ release

ACTIVIST Mya-Rose Craig has demanded the release of a colony of penguins that she believes deserve better than “a terrible life of captivity”.

The ornithologist known as Birdgirl, 21, said their “cramped” enclosure at Sea Life London Aquarium was a stark contrast to their lives in the wild.

She added: “These intelligent and social creatures belong in the vast expanses of the ocean and the ice packs alongside, not in a cramped enclosure

“These animals deserve better than a terrible life of captivity for the sake of money.”

Sea Life London Aquarium, owned by Merlin Entertainments, insists the gentoo penguins “are content in their environment”.

Freedom for Animals’ petition calling for the penguins’ release into a sanctuary has amassed nearly 1,300 signatures.

The charity said: “Gentoo penguins are currently doing well in the wild…therefore, the breeding programmes that Sea Life is undertaking is very clearly not motivated by conservation”.

The Express was threatened with legal action earlier this month by the aquarium for daring to say its penguins were “captive”. But campaigners rallied around the paper which reported how the animals are housed in the enclosure without daylight or fresh air.

Sea Life said that if the penguins did go outside, they would be at risk of pollution and airborne diseases. It added that the colony was regularly inspected by independent vets, third-party experts and local and national authority officials.

A spokesman added: “The welfare of all the animals in our care is of paramount importance to us and we are committed to delivering the highest levels of care.”

● To sign the petition, visit https://tinyurl.com/ffa-penguins