Live Penguins In Hamleys Criticised

By · November 30, 2010 at 12:49 pm · 14 Comments · Latest News · Report an error ·

Hamleys toy store on Regent Street have an unusual distraction for Christmas shoppers this year – what they describe as a ‘real-life penguin pool’. And in that real-life penguin pool will be ‘real-life penguins’.

you will be able to see the penguins swim, interact with their friends and be fed at tea time!

To some, this will be a delightful spectacle. But others, such as Socialholic, find it ‘disgusting’ that animals are being used for entertainment in this way.

Sadly, these animals can’t ‘magic’ into central London, so they will face a pretty horrendous journey in to the city too – where they will also be stressed…This is, in my opinion, disgusting. It teaches children that animals are worthless and putting some through this misery for a laugh is acceptable.

Debate is now raging in the comments over there about whether the show is cruel, or a harmless day-trip for the already zoo-based avians.

Details about the event, which was to take place on 6 December, appear to have now been removed from the store’s site, but is still available in cache.

Image from Secretlondon123 in the Londonist Flickr pool.

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  • Ben Norum

    Horrendous journey into the city?
    They’ll be coming from the Outer Circle, not the Arctic Circle.

    • Smn

      The penguins are NOT being provided by ZSL London Zoo, or ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

      • http://twitter.com/topdowntoedown Lewis Cooper

        That’s interesting. I wonder where they’re coming from…?

  • http://twitter.com/tiredoflondon tiredoflondon

    I like penguins, and this does seem a little unnecessary, but I would point out to Socialholic that I face a pretty horrendous journey in to the city every single day, and get pretty stressed, but I still do it.

    And for anyone who thinks that mine is a choice, it really isn’t.

  • Dean Nicholas

    Can’t say I’m too surprised — London isn’t exactly kind to penguins. Just take a look at Berthold Lubetkin’s (now disused) penguin pool at ZSL. Great from an architectural point of view, less so from an ‘appropriate for penguins’ angle.

  • penguin lover

    I would be great if hamleys give yo a paint gun to shoot at the penguins, now that would be cool

    • Testytesty192023

      Or a ‘My First Dictionary’ to help people construct coherent sentences beneath blog posts.

      • penguin lover

        You are right, my grammar is appalling, but then I blame that on the increase of student fees. I’m getting my diploma from Mac Donalds.

  • Anon

    An idiotic and cruel idea. Not the way to teach children how to treat animals. At least zoo penguins have some outdoor space. Hamleys is a toy shop for god’s sake.

  • fiona

    for god sake mr ‘anonymous’ its for the day not for their entire lives!

  • Mr e.

    Penguin taste nice . I want to buy toys. Eat penguin. Buy toys. Eat penguin. Buy toys. Eat penguin. Buy toys. Ki k ka kick up a penguin. Buy toys. Eat a burger. Shave a penguin. Cut my hair. Eat a penguin. Buy fragrance. Spray a camel. Buy stuff….

  • Marie-C

    You really have to worry when someone a Hamleys decides that having live penguins in a toy shop is a good idea, it shows no respect for these lovely creatures and quite frankly it is very cruel. After seeing them, there are bound to be some children with the crazy notion that you can have one as a pet, and end up making their parents lives a total misery demanding that one be obtained. If you want to see penguins go to a zoo where they are in a better environment, outside!!!

  • http://twitter.com/eyetie Franco Milazzo

    Is this as bad as the Penguins In Dubai themepark?http://www.timeoutdubai.com/aroundtown/features/16410-penguins-in-dubai“It seems the UAE has gone penguin crazy this month. For starters, there are the six Antarctic Gentoo penguins that moved into The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo last week. Part of a special exhibit, entitled ‘Melting Ice’, the penguins live in an enclosed area that’s set to sub-zero temperatures and decorated with ice beds, so they feel right at home.”
    That would be “right at home” in the middle of a desert and thousands of miles from their real “home”.

  • http://www.healthcompedium.com hecatom

    Don’t torture the animals please.

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