Protesters call for release of penguins ‘trapped in basement’ of London aquarium

(left-right) Dale Vince, Chris Packham, Megan McCubbin and Feargal Sharkey at the Free the Fifteen protest organised by Freedom for Animals with support from Born Free, who are calling for a group of 15 Gentoo penguins to be freed from their basement enclosure, at Sea Life London (Jonathan Brady/PA) - (PA Wire)

Animal welfare campaigners have called for the release of 15 penguins “trapped in a basement without sunlight or fresh air” at the Sea Life London Aquarium – with former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey daring the company’s chief executive to swap places with the birds.

The Free The Fifteen demonstration, organised by Freedom For Animals with support from Born Free and The Express newspaper, saw between 250 and 300 people attend on Sunday morning to protest against the captivity of 15 gentoo penguins at the riverside attraction in Westminster.