18th February 2025

Activists in London, Brighton, and Newcastle took to the streets this weekend to protest Sea Life’s continued imprisonment of gentoo penguins. In the basement of Sea Life London aquarium, these remarkable animals are held captive in a small, windowless room, with no natural light or fresh air. We launched a campaign to end their exploitation one year ago, and we joined activists this weekend to mark the anniversary.

A year into the campaign, we wanted to send a very clear message to Sea Life and its parent company, Merlin Entertainments - we will not stop until they end their penguin ‘breeding programmes’ and move the penguins they currently hold captive to somewhere they can experience a more natural environment. As the London aquarium is the centre of this campaign, we joined activists there, as well as representatives from our partners Born Free Foundation, to raise awareness right on the doorstep. As protesters spoke over megaphones about the grim reality faced by animals in the aquarium, visitors started to leave the entry queue, some requested refunds from the attraction, and one even marched over, picked up a placard, and joined the protest!

As the demonstration continued, news began to filter through that the penguin exhibit had been closed to visitors. Eventually, staff confirmed that the area had been closed ‘for maintenance’ and that the penguins had been moved elsewhere. It’s unclear where the animals could have been moved, as we are not aware of a second, vacant penguin ‘habitat’ in the building. Hopefully, this indefinite closure of the exhibit provides respite for the penguins from their long ordeal of being on display, and any ‘maintenance’ taking place does not cause them comparable stress.

It wasn’t just London that saw action; our friends in Newcastle and Brighton also raised awareness in the streets, and supporters were encouraged to take part in a weekend of online actions, including taking a new pledge to boycott ALL Merlin Entertainments attractions while they are exploiting animals. 

All of these actions are still open, so it’s not too late to join the thousands of people who have signed the petition, written to their MPs, and taken the pledge.

What happens now? 

After a year of campaigning, we’re not done yet, and we continue to get positive responses from the public and from the media. The Daily Express has backed us from very early on, and covered this weekend’s actions, and the campaign has recently been featured on the Jeremy Vine show. We will continue to do all we can, for as long as it takes, to get this issue into the public eye, and ultimately, get the penguins out of the basement.

How can you join the campaign?

Join a demo - there are regular demonstrations outside London Sea Life Aquarium. Get in touch if you want to join.

Sign the pledge to not visit a Merlin Entertainments attraction.

Sign the petition demanding Sea Life London release the penguins.

Contact your MP asking that they support the EDM.

Adopt a penguin and help raise funds to carry out vital investigation work in aquariums.

Donate and help carry on campaigns calling for the freedom of ALL animals.