'Sea Life penguins must get the life they deserve'

The penguins arrived in May 2011 from Edinburgh Zoo

Penguins "trapped" in the Sea Life London Aquarium must "get the life they deserve", a group of MPs has warned.

The captivity of 15 Gentoo penguins at the riverside attraction is "un-British", said David Taylor, Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead, who is leading the campaign.

The aquarium, owned by Merlin Entertainments, opened its first penguin exhibit in May 2011 with 10 Gentoo penguins from Edinburgh Zoo.

A spokesperson from the Merlin Entertainments' conservation, welfare and education team said the enclosure replicated the penguin's natural habitat, and was on the ground floor of the aquarium rather than the basement.

In a letter to Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Emma Reynolds, the group of MPs asked her to "consider whether the penguins should be relocated to a more suitable facility better aligned with their behavioural, ecological and physiological needs".

Mr Taylor said: "It's un-British to keep penguins trapped in a basement with no daylight or fresh air.

"No animal should live like that, with their rights appearing to be traded for hard cash.

"Labour has always stood up for animals and we won't stop until these penguins get the life they deserve."

Sea Life aquariums contain more than 30,000 sea creatures across the UK

The campaign has received the backing of former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey, who challenged the new Merlin Entertainments chief executive Fiona Eastwood to "swap places with the penguins".

A petition by campaign group Freedom For Animals calling for the penguins to be moved into a better facility has received more than 37,000 signatures.

The Merlin Entertainments spokesperson said: "We know that many people care deeply about the Gentoo penguins at Sea Life London Aquarium - we do too.

"We have an incredible team of conservationists, animal welfare specialists, and aquarists who are with the penguins every day, making sure they're healthy and thriving."

They said Penguin Point met the standards of modern zoo practice and was "carefully designed to reflect important elements of the penguins' natural environment".

"We take every decision seriously, always guided by what's best for the animals," they added.

A Defra spokesperson said: "This government is committed to the highest standards of animal welfare.

"We recently launched an overhaul of welfare standards in zoos to strengthen protections and ensure all animals - including Gentoo penguins - are cared for in line with best practice."