A group of 75 MPs are calling for the release of 15 penguins \u201ctrapped\u201d in a small enclosure \u201cwithout sunlight or fresh air\u201d at the Sea Life London Aquarium.<\/p>\n
Housing the 15 gentoo penguins at the attraction on the South Bank was \u201cun-British\u201d, said the leader of the campaign.<\/p>\n
Members of parliament from across the political spectrum signed the open letter calling for an urgent review into the welfare of the birds.<\/p>\n
Owned by Merlin Entertainments, the aquarium opened its first penguin exhibit in 2011 with 10 gentoos from Edinburgh zoo which \u201chave now endured 14 years\u201d with a pool just 2.1 metres deep, according to campaigners.<\/p>\n
In a letter to the environment secretary, Emma Reynolds, the group asked her to \u201cconsider whether the penguins should be relocated to a more suitable facility better aligned with their behavioural, ecological and physiological needs\u201d.<\/p>\n
David Taylor, the Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead who coordinated the letter, said: \u201cIt\u2019s un-British to keep penguins trapped in a basement with no daylight or fresh air. No animal should live like that, with their rights appearing to be traded for hard cash. Labour has always stood up for animals and we won\u2019t stop until these penguins get the life they deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n
The campaign has received the backing of the musician Feargal Sharkey, who challenged Fiona Eastwood, the chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, to \u201cswap places with the penguins\u201d. The naturalist and TV presenter Chris Packham called the situation \u201ca blight on the reputation of London\u2019s attractions\u201d at a protest last month.<\/p>\n
A petition by the campaign group Freedom For Animals calling for the penguins to be moved to a better facility has received more than 37,000 signatures.<\/p>\n
Merlin Entertainments is co-run by the Blackstone asset company, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Kirkbi, the investment arm of the Lego family. It runs attractions across the UK including Alton Towers and Madame Tussauds.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Merlin Entertainments said the enclosure replicated the penguin\u2019s natural habitat and was on the ground floor of the aquarium rather than in the basement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that many people care deeply about the gentoo penguins at Sea Life London Aquarium \u2013 we do too,\u201d a statement said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have an incredible team of conservationists, animal welfare specialists, and aquarists who are with the penguins every day, making sure they\u2019re healthy and thriving. And we don\u2019t do this alone \u2013 we work with some of the best penguin experts in the world, including vets and specialists in penguin behaviour and habitat design.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey helped us build penguin point which meets the high standards set by the [UK government\u2019s] standards of modern zoo practice, and we continue to be assessed by independent organisations like the Global Humane Society and the International Zoo Veterinary Group.<\/p>\n
\u201cPenguin point, located on the ground floor of the aquarium, was carefully designed to reflect important elements of the penguins\u2019 natural environment as closely as possible to ensure good health, including climate-controlled temperature and filtered fresh air.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are things that can\u2019t easily be replicated outdoors and releasing them into the wild simply isn\u2019t a safe option for these penguins, who have always lived in human care. This is a complex issue. There\u2019s a lot to consider, and we take every decision seriously, always guided by what\u2019s best for the animals. We\u2019re open. We\u2019re listening. And we\u2019ve always done what\u2019s right for our animals based on expert advice and their individual needs. That\u2019s a commitment we stand by.\u201d<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the prime minister. Keir Starmer, said: \u201cWe take animal welfare extremely seriously and are committed to upholding the highest standards of care for all animals in captivity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have recently launched, as you\u2019ll be aware, a comprehensive overhaul of zoo welfare standards to ensure that all animals, including penguins, are protected and cared for in line with the latest best practice and scientific understanding.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe animal welfare minister, Baroness Hayman, has met with Merlin Entertainments and continues to be kept updated on their care and more broadly, later this year, we\u2019ll publish a new animal welfare strategy, setting out the most ambitious plans and generation to improve the lives of animals across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n