London's basement penguins are moving to a bigger home — and no more will be bred in captivity there

For years, London's gentoo penguins lived in a basement — no daylight, no sky. More than 52,000 people signed a petition, over 70 MPs signed an open letter, and this week Merlin Entertainments gave its answer: the SEA LIFE London exhibit will close. London's penguins will join the Birmingham flock in one colony, housed in modified and improved conditions — and Merlin will not breed gentoo penguins again, or bring in more, except for a critical welfare need. 'These will be the last gentoos in Merlin's facilities,' said Born Free's Will Travers. Campaigners call it what happens when a public simply does not stop asking.

SDG 15 · Life on land — Mechanism: community action