- Merlin Entertainments, owners of Sea Life London Aquarium, have acknowledged that "no change is not an option" for their gentoo penguins following a campaign against their captivity.
- The company has pledged to release a concrete plan for the colony's future by the end of May, considering either relocating the penguins or making significant improvements to their current habitat.
- The commitment follows calls from the public, MPs, and animal welfare activists for the release of the 15 penguins, who are housed in an indoor enclosure without access to fresh air or daylight.
- Campaigners, including the Born Free Foundation and Freedom for Animals, assert the birds have endured "14 years in a basement" since 10 gentoo penguins were first introduced from Edinburgh Zoo in May 2011.
- More than 70 MPs signed an open letter to the Environment Secretary, and a public petition calling for the penguins to be moved has garnered almost 50,000 signatures.
IN FULL
London aquarium says ‘no change is not an option’ for indoor penguins
