After six years together and raising two chicks, Sydney’s greatest gay penguin love story has ended in heartbreak.
Sphen, one half of the gay Gentoo penguin couple, has died. He leaves behind his partner Magic and their two chicks, Lara and Clancy.
Gay penguins Sphen (right) and Magic.Credit: Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
The keepers are now focusing their care on Magic, who turns nine this year. The penguin was taken to see his soulmate after his death, so he could understand that Sphen would not be coming home.
Magic began to sing when he saw Sphen, which was then echoed by the rest of the colony. Sphen had to be euthanised after suffering through a period of ill health.
Sphen and Magic shot to viral fame in 2018 when the staff at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium discovered the male penguins had become inseparable. Keepers noticed the two were waddling and swimming together in the lead up to mating season.
The keeper’s suspicions were confirmed when the pair started collecting pebbles to create their own nest together – and their love was announced to the world.
Sphen, left, and Magic were together for six years.Credit: Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
To keep the couple included in mating season, the keepers gave the couple a dummy egg with which to practice incubating. They were naturals, and were eventually given their own (adopted) egg to hatch.
In October 2018, baby Sphengic (now named Lara) was born.
The aquarium labelled the couple a symbol of the Australian gay rights movement. They inspired their own float at Mardi Gras, appeared in the NSW education syllabus to teach children about acceptance, and were featured in the Netflix show Atypical.
Sphen (right) feeds his chick.Credit: Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
“The loss of Sphen is heartbreaking to the penguin colony, the team and everyone who has been inspired or positively impacted by Sphen and Magic’s story,” Richard Dilly, General Manager at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, said.
“We want to take this opportunity to reflect and celebrate Sphen’s life, remembering what an icon he was, the unique bond he shared with Magic and the positive impact he made in the world.”
While homosexuality in animals is a novelty, research suggests same sex behaviour is observed widely across the animal kingdom, though rarely reported.
A study in journal PLOS One surveyed 65 researchers who worked across 52 species, and found 77 per cent had observed same sex sexual behaviour in animals, but just 19 per cent had published their findings.
Sphen and Magic are not the first gay penguin couple to make headlines. At an aquarium in Bournemouth in the UK, penguins Diego and Zorro also coupled up and hatched an adopted chick.
The aquarium has set up a page where fans can leave a tribute to Sphen here.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.