Gay Penguin Sphen Dies: Tragedy Hits Same-Sex Penguin Couple at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, Male Gentoo Penguin Sphen Passes Away at 11, Leaving Behind Partner Magic
According to a statement released by the Australia's Sea Life Sydney Aquarium on August 22, the male gay gentoo penguin Sphen, famous for raising chicks with his same-sex partner Magic, has tragically died at 11 years of age.
Australian male gay gentoo penguin Sphen, famous for raising chicks with his same-sex partner Magic, has tragically died at 11 years of age at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium on August 22. The "penguin power couple" of six years had adopted two children- Sphengic, aka Lara, and Clancy. It was the unlikeliness of a gay couple to be raising children in the animal world that made the penguins - Sphen and Magic, celebrated among people. They first blew up the internet after catching attention of their zookeepers as they built a nest of pebbles together in 2018. Unlike most gentoo penguin couples, gay penguin Sphen and Magic were together even outside the typical breeding season. The couple inspired a Mardi Gras float, was included in New South Wales education syllabus and even featured on Netflix's show Atypical. Bird Flu Killing Penguins? Thousands of Penguins Found Dead on Island in Antarctica, Scientists Suspect H5N1 Avian Flu to Be Cause of Deaths.
Tragedy Hits Same-Sex Penguin Couple as Sphen Dies
A celebrated Australian penguin famous for raising chicks as part of an unlikely same-sex couple has died. Male gentoo penguins Sphen and Magic caught the attention of zookeepers, and then the world, when they built a nest of pebbles together in 2018 @AFP
— Laura Chung (@Laura_R_Chung) August 22, 2024
Sydney gay gentoo penguin Sphen has sadly passed away, aged 11.
He leaves behind partner Magic and two adopted children Sphengic (Lara) and Clancy. pic.twitter.com/ghOWf6EGTP
— Aus Crave (@AusCrave) August 21, 2024
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 22, 2024 11:24 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
