A CONTROVERSIAL penguin parade, which was scheduled to take place in Darlington town centre this weekend, has been cancelled amid threats of a demonstration by animal rights protestors.

More than 120 people have joined a Facebook group to protest against plans for an event using live penguins in Darlington on Saturday (December 19).

The penguin parade was an event organised Distinct Darlington, the town's Business Improvement District company.

Distinct Darlington, which described the event as a Christmas-themed educational display featuring live Humboldt penguins, announced the cancellation of the parade in a Facebook post this afternoon.

The company said the 'increasingly aggressive nature' of protestors had led to the decision to cancel the parade.

The group protesting against the event had called on members of the public to join a demonstration at the 'cruel and disrespectful' event.

Elisa Allen, associate director of animal rights charity PETA, which had also objected to the parade, said: "We're delighted that Distinct Darlington has cancelled plans for the penguin event this weekend.

"Such events are cruel and disrespectful, and subjecting penguins to the stress of travel, confinement and handling on a busy shopping day would have been out of touch with the public's concern for animal welfare.

"We commend the organisers for turning their back on this ill-conceived plan and are very grateful to the compassionate people of Darlington who expressed their objections."

PETA's campaign co-ordinator Kirsty Henderson had written to Bill Dixon, leader of Darlington Borough Council, calling on him to personally intervene and cancel the event.

The email - the full text of which can be read here - said: "A busy commercial centre such as Darlington, filled with noisy shoppers, bright lights and excited children, is an entirely unsuitable environment for penguins or any other animals.

"These beautiful animals live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere.

The practice of taking penguins out on the road, putting them in pens and treating them as if they were living Christmas ornaments that exist merely for our "entertainment", is unacceptable, and Darlington should not be supporting such an unethical and abusive industry."

Cllr Dixon said: "My view is that, if Distinct Darlington thought a penguin parade was a good thing to do for Christmas trade, given that it was RSPCA-approved, then it was legitimate.

"But nobody wants to spoil Christmas for children, so if there was going to be a demonstration, then I think it was the sensible thing to do to cancel it."

"I have replied to PETA's email, informing them that the event has been cancelled."

Distinct Darlington manager Alex Hirst had initially insisted the event would go ahead despite the protestations of PETA and others.

A statement released on behalf of Distinct Darlington following the cancellation announcement said: "We understand that the many families who were looking forward to the event will be disappointed, and Distinct Darlington shares this sentiment.

"However, in recent days we have become very concerned about the increasingly aggressive nature of groups of animal rights protestors who are under the mistaken impression that the penguins’ welfare is in some way at risk.

"Whilst we would like to reiterate that this is absolutely not the case, our main priority is to ensure the comfort, enjoyment, and ultimately, the safety of the general public. 

"As such, it is with sadness that we have been compelled to take this course of action."