Campaign Expands to Free 15 Penguins Held in London Aquarium Basement

Animal rights activists are intensifying their campaign to free 15 gentoo penguins kept in a basement at the Sea Life London Aquarium, arguing that the birds suffer from a lack of sunlight and fresh air in their artificial habitat. The protest, supported by celebrities such as Chris Packham, Feargal Sharkey, and Megan McCubbin, drew around 250 to 300 people calling on Merlin Entertainments, which owns the aquarium, to rehome the penguins in a more natural environment. Critics highlight that some penguins have been confined underground for 14 years in a pool only six to seven feet deep, contrasting sharply with their natural swimming capabilities and environment. Merlin Entertainments maintains that the enclosure meets veterinary standards and provides an adequate balance of land and water to allow the penguins to express normal behaviors. Feargal Sharkey publicly challenged the company's CEO to swap places with the penguins to demonstrate the conditions they endure. The campaign has gathered over 15,000 signatures and gained cross-party political support, emphasizing public opposition to what they see as exploitation of animals for entertainment.