Progress For Penguins
Born Free acknowledges positive progress concerning the Gentoo penguins held at SEA LIFE London Aquarium.
The Born Free Foundation, Freedom for Animals and PETA (the campaigning charities), acknowledge positive progress in response to a multi-stakeholder meeting concerning the Gentoo penguins held at SEA LIFE London Aquarium.
Following lengthy and detailed discussions, Merlin Entertainments have proposed substantive changes to its Gentoo penguin exhibits at London and Birmingham:
- The merging of its two UK Gentoo colonies into a single, larger, and enhanced exhibit, with significantly more water space and natural light.
- A commitment that Gentoo penguin breeding will permanently cease at both SEA LIFE London Aquarium and SEA LIFE Birmingham.
The campaigning charities maintain that other options still remain open for consideration by Merlin, including:
- Transferring the Gentoos to another facility where they will have access to the outdoors.
- In the future, moving the Gentoos to an accredited Penguin Sanctuary (recognising that currently no such facility exists).
Born Free’s co-founder and Executive President Will Travers OBE said: “Born Free’s practical approach to improving the welfare of captive wild animals and ending their captive exploitation, supports our principled objective of doing what we can to keep wildlife in the wild, where it belongs. Merlin Entertainment’s confirmation that both their London and Birmingham penguins will become a non-breeding colony is an important step in the right direction. As an organisation opposed to the keeping of wild animals in captivity, we urge Merlin Entertainments to adopt this progressive policy across all its captive wild animal centres. However, as responsible and compassionate animal welfare professionals, we also recognise that for most wild animals in zoos, aquaria, and kept by private individuals, the possibility of being returned to the wild is simply not feasible, and we encourage Merlin, SEA LIFE London, and all stakeholders to continue to seek potential opportunities to move the penguins to a facility that can offer them a more extensive habitat with access to the outdoors.”
Laura Walton, Co-Director, Freedom for Animals, said: “Freedom for Animals’ focus throughout this campaign has always been on the rights of the penguins, so our preference remains to see them moved to a more extensive environment – ideally a bespoke Penguin Sanctuary – where they can experience the outdoors and live a life that more closely reflects their natural behaviours and instincts. While improved conditions can never resolve the fundamental ethical issue of captivity, we recognise that the proposed measures would make a material difference to the lives of these penguins. Importantly, Merlin Entertainments’ commitment to permanently end gentoo penguin breeding at both SEA LIFE London Aquarium and SEA LIFE Birmingham is a significant step forward. At the heart of Freedom for Animals’ philosophy is the belief that wild animals should not be bred into lives of confinement for human entertainment, so we welcome the commitment that no further Gentoo penguins will be born into captivity within SEA LIFE’s UK facilities.”
Dr Carys Bennett, Senior Corporate Projects Manager, PETA said: “Animals adapted to live in the sub-Antarctic, with its icy temperatures and dynamic weather, can never thrive in a room in a city centre. These incredible birds deserve better. We are thankful that these will be the last generation of Gentoos held in the UK by SEA LIFE. Under the circumstances, the comprehensive breeding ban, and expansion of the exhibit represent meaningful progress for the birds at this time.”
The campaigning charities wish to thank the public and the media for their support. Also, the other members of the Gentoo Roundtable, and in particular SEA LIFE and Merlin Entertainments, for their careful and positive consideration of the concerns that have been raised, and for being willing to deliver change in a constructive and comprehensive way.
Members of the Gentoo Penguin Roundtable include representatives of: SEA LIFE London Aquarium, Merlin Entertainments, The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA), a specialist veterinarian, leading researchers studying wild penguins, and representatives of Freedom For Animals, The Born Free Foundation, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The group will continue with an open dialogue to advance positive changes that are in the best interests of the penguins.