Celebrities Lead 300-Person Protest Demanding Freedom for 15 Captive Penguins at London Aquarium

A protest involving around 300 people, including celebrities such as Chris Packham and Feargal Sharkey, called for the release of 15 gentoo penguins kept in a basement enclosure at Sea Life London Aquarium without access to fresh air or daylight. The protesters criticized the aquarium, owned by Merlin Entertainments, for confining the penguins to a small, 6-7 foot pool that restricts their natural behaviors like swimming and diving, describing the conditions as cruel and outdated. Feargal Sharkey challenged the aquarium's CEO to swap places with the penguins to highlight the severity of their captivity. Although the aquarium claims the habitat was designed with veterinary advice and provides a balance of water and land, campaigners argue there is no conservation justification for keeping these penguins captive, especially as their wild populations are stable. Public support includes a petition with over 15,000 signatures and backing from MPs and animal welfare groups, emphasizing that such captivity is exploitative and unnecessary. The situation has sparked a broader debate on animal welfare and the ethics of keeping wildlife in entertainment venues.