The future home of our Gentoo Penguins in the UK

Merlin announces the creation of a new, pioneering habitat for all its UK gentoo penguins, located at the National SEA LIFE Centre in Birmingham

Since December 2025, Merlin, and its in-house Conservation, Welfare & Education specialists, have been in discussions with Freedom for Animals, the Born Free Foundation, PETA, a Professor of Aquatic Biology specialising in penguin behaviours, a specialist veterinarian, and BIAZA, to consider the long term future of the gentoo penguins at SEA LIFE aquariums in the UK.

While the group has brought different perspectives, the shared goal has been to achieve the best possible future for the penguins.

Earlier this year, Merlin committed to combining its two existing UK colonies – London and Birmingham – into a single SEA LIFE home. Moving to an enhanced habitat within the SEA LIFE family, means that our expert animal care specialists, who care deeply for these penguins, are able to continue monitoring the health and wellbeing of the colony and deliver on our commitment to permanently end gentoo breeding at SEA LIFE sites in the UK.

Following further stakeholder input and design reviews, the National SEA LIFE Centre in Birmingham has been selected as the future home of all gentoo penguins in SEA LIFE’s care in the UK. The Centre has been chosen due to the scale of opportunities available to deliver long term welfare enhancements for the combined colony.

The design for the new gentoo habitat, created with input from an expert in wild penguins, will result in a pioneering facility for animal welfare and conservation research in the UK.

It will provide a dynamic and complex environment with seasonal variations both above and below the water for the animals, reflecting aspects of natural weather conditions. There will be land and water areas which are anticipated to be double the size of those in the existing London habitat, along with a longer pool. In addition, an expanded ‘deep end’ of the pool will be created, offering over three times the space currently provided in both London and Birmingham.

Located across multiple levels, and benefitting from natural light, the new habitat will further support natural behaviours and long term welfare and become an exceptional home for the colony.

The facility will also take steps to become a research centre of excellence, focused on identifying new ways to support the conservation of gentoo penguins in the wild. This will include specialised observational technology to monitor the animals’ welfare day to day and over the long term. In accordance with best practice, emerging science and innovation, Merlin will continue to work with stakeholders to inform decisions that are consistent with its commitment to always put the penguins first.

Merlin will shortly submit formal plans to the local authority after which, subject to approvals, works are expected to commence in 2027, with the colony anticipated to move into its new home during 2028. The timing of the move will be guided by the needs of the penguins, with their welfare remaining our most important consideration. When the move takes place, the gentoo habitat at London will close, and the vacated space will be repurposed in support of SEA LIFE’s conservation priorities.

The SEA LIFE team continues to provide expert care to the colonies in both UK locations while preparations for the move progress. Reaching this point has only been possible thanks to the contribution of all expert stakeholders. Merlin is grateful for their time and commitment to help shape this step forward, and will continue to engage with them as the preparations get underway, through until the move into the new home.