Ratchet was the second oldest penguin in the colony and was extremely well-loved by the team and visitors, an aquarium spokeswoman said. The average lifespan of a gentoo penguin is 15 to 20 years, according to the spokeswoman. Ratchet was part of a gentoo colony that serves as ambassadors to highlight challenges faced by wild penguins, she added.
Working with penguins has enabled the aquarium's teams to develop expert specialist animal care skills used worldwide for penguin rescue and scientific discoveries, the spokeswoman said. The exact cause of Ratchet's death has not been disclosed. It is unclear how many penguins remain in the colony after his death.
Ratchet was among 15 penguins at the center of a campaign to be moved to a more suitable enclosure. Freedom for Animals launched the 'Free the Fifteen' campaign in January 2024, and it has since been backed by MPs, celebrities, and more than 50,000 members of the public. The Express newspaper has been running a crusade to 'free the 15' penguins.
The aquarium threatened legal action against the Express for using the word 'captive' and including a petition link, according to an Express journalist. A protest with 250 to 300 people was held at the London Aquarium, organized by Freedom for Animals with support from Born Free and The Express. According to the BBC, Chris Packham described the penguin enclosure as 'a blight on the reputation of London's attractions'.
Campaigners say the penguin pool is about 6 to 7 feet deep, while gentoo penguins in the wild can dive to depths of 680 feet at 22mph, depriving them of expressing natural behaviors. The location of the enclosure is disputed: campaigners claim the penguins are confined to a basement, but Merlin Entertainments says the enclosure is on the ground floor. 75 MPs joined animal welfare activists calling for the release of the penguins.
Chris Packham called the penguin enclosure 'a blight on the reputation of London's attractions'.
The aquarium spokesperson said the habitat was designed with help and advice from specialist vets and provides an excellent balance of water and land for normal behaviours and sufficient privacy. Merlin Entertainments previously said its welfare team cares for the penguins daily to keep them healthy and thriving. Experts, campaigners, and the aquarium will meet for talks on the future of the penguins at the end of this month.
Merlin Entertainments stated in March that they are in intensive, science-backed discussions with independent experts to determine best next steps, agreeing that no change is not an option. The meeting explored options from improving the existing habitat to rehoming the penguins. Breeding has been paused since 2023.
Further dialogue is planned for early 2026. According to the BBC, Laura Walton of Freedom For Animals said full release into the wild is not a viable option, but a penguin sanctuary with natural sunlight and fresh air is being considered. The credentials and independence of the experts involved in the discussions have not been made public.
A plan is to be shared by the end of May, a Merlin Entertainments spokesman said. The oldest penguin in the group is Polly, born in 1995, originally from Edinburgh Zoo, and moved to London in 2011. The penguins have been at the aquarium since May 2011, when 10 gentoo penguins were introduced from Edinburgh Zoo.
The wild gentoo penguin population is stable with an estimated 774,000 mature individuals, and they are not endangered.