Sea Life London Aquarium threatens legal action for saying penguins are 'captive'
The total population size of the Gentoo penguin is 774,000 mature individuals. This species is currently classified as least concern on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers are stable.
The Express has been threatened with legal action by an aquarium for daring to say its penguins are “captive”.
Campaigners have rallied around after we reported how a colony of 15 gentoo penguins are being housed in a “dungeon” enclosure without daylight or fresh air at Sea Life London Aquarium.
The company disputed this, saying the penguins “are content in their environment”.
Merlin Entertainments – Sea Life’s parent company – wrote “we will be forced to take legal action” unless the Express removes “captive” from an online article.
Animal welfare groups immediately lashed out, with Freedom for Animals director Dr Andrew Kelly saying: “Captivity is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as ‘a person or animal whose ability to move or act freely is limited by being kept in a space’ – this is very clearly what is happening to these penguins.
“We have consulted biologists who agree there is no benefit to the animals from being in captivity, nor to the species in the wild.
“The only benefit is to Sea Life and Merlin Entertainments, who profit from their exhibition at the expense of the penguins, who are unable to fully enjoy their natural behaviours of rapid swimming and deep diving. This is exploitation, and it must end.”
Dr Kelly previously referred to their habitat as a “dungeon”.
Don't miss
'Free them!' Penguins with no fresh air held captive in London aquarium
Campaigner warn London aquarium keeping defenceless penguins in 'dungeon'
Freedom for Animals has launched a petition calling for the penguins’ release into a sanctuary.
The charity said the enclosure only allows them to dive to 7ft – a far cry from the 600ft in the wild.
Peter Kemple Hardy, from World Animal Protection, said: “Captivity is the accepted term used for wild animals under human control living outside their natural habitat. In fact, it is a term used by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the organisation that accredits Sea Life Aquarium.
“If animals are to be housed in aquariums or zoos for genuine conservation goals, these establishments should strive to recreate the best possible environment.
“This includes ensuring access to daylight and providing enough space for penguins to dive and move around naturally. It is hard to see how this venue can justify keeping these penguins in captivity on conservation or welfare grounds.”
Members of the public have also commented – after paying up to £40 to visit the aquarium.
A visitor named Chloe, who left a review this month, said: “It was a nice family day out ruined at the end by the depressing penguin enclosure. It was upsetting to see and horrible to think about them there 24/7. They have a tiny pool to swim in and very little space.”
Chris Lewis, Born Free’s captivity research officer, said: “The argument that because an animal is breeding in captivity its welfare needs are being met is outdated.
“It is clear that the UK climate is unsuitable for gentoo penguins, this has resulted in them being kept in an unnatural, artificial environment. The only educational message it conveys is that these penguins should not be in captivity.”
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 is regularly inspected by independent vets, third-party experts and local and national authority officials.
The habitat, it said, was designed with advice from specialist vets and offers a consistent and appropriate temperature and lighting that stimulates the birds’ annual moulting, nesting and breeding patterns.
All aspects of each bird’s welfare are regularly checked, it said, adding: “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.”