Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) safety and (b) wellbeing of penguins housed in (i) zoos and (ii) aquariums.

The Government published new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain on 24 May 2025, which will come into force from May 2027. The new Standards contain the very latest in best practice for caring for animals in zoos and aquariums, including penguins, and will replace the 2012 Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice.

Local authorities are responsible for licensing zoos and aquariums, enforcing conditions and carrying out inspections to ensure animals are being kept in line with the Standards.