Home / Environment / London Aquarium Penguins Denied Sunlight, Fresh Air
London Aquarium Penguins Denied Sunlight, Fresh Air
15 Mar
Summary
- Fifteen penguins confined for years without fresh air or daylight.
- Campaigners and public demand better conditions for captive penguins.
- Aquarium owner promises a plan by end of May for habitat improvements.
For years, fifteen gentoo penguins have been housed in a subterranean enclosure at Sea Life London Aquarium, reportedly deprived of natural sunlight and fresh air. This starkly contrasts with the rich, complex lives these animals lead in their natural habitats, where they can dive to significant depths and swim at high speeds.
Animal welfare groups, in collaboration with media outlets and the public, have campaigned for two years to improve the penguins' living conditions. Despite the aquarium's owner, Merlin Entertainments, acknowledging the criticism and stating they are working with experts to develop a plan, promised by the end of May, significant changes have not yet been realized.
While the penguins cannot be released into the wild, advocates insist their current enclosure, with a pool only 7ft deep, severely limits their ability to perform natural behaviors. Merlin Entertainments has indicated they are enhancing the habitat and introducing measures to encourage natural behaviors, based on expert and stakeholder input.
