It may come as a surprise for many, but same-sex couples are actually pretty common among animals. In fact, there are over 450 species worldwide which exhibit same-sex behavior. And among these species are penguins. The SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium in Australia, for instance, is home to a gay penguin couple named Sphen and Magic.
The aquarium’s staff first noticed the blossoming relationship between the two back in 2018. Just before the breeding season, the two got very close to each other and constantly went for swims together. They were inseparable. And as soon as the breeding season began, the couple also started building their nest.
At that time, the pair made numerous attempts to hatch a rock. This caught the attention of the staff, so they decided to give the couple a dummy egg to care for. Much to their surprise, Sphen and Magic did a great job at taking care of the egg. So, they eventually gave the “attentive” and “incredibly caring” couple a real egg to foster on their own.
Having successfully raised their firstborn Lara, the couple proved that they’re just as qualified as heterosexual couples when it comes to hatching a chick.
“If one of our pairs has too many eggs or are not good at looking after their eggs, we will sometimes foster these eggs out to other pairs like Sphen and Magic. We gave Sphen and Magic an egg to incubate as they have proven to be good parents in the past.”
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium’s gay penguin couple Sphen and Magic have recently welcomed their second fostered chick
Two years later, the power couple has yet again impressed the staff with their parental instincts. Just recently, Sphen and Magic successfully welcomed their second fostered chick.
Sphen and Magic, the famous penguin Dads, have adopted and hatched their second egg. We will continue to do the hard work so that all rainbow families are protected from discrimination, but sometimes it’s nice to celebrate the arrival of a new baby, even if they’re a penguin ?? pic.twitter.com/TAubryU5dB
— Equality Australia ? (@EqualityAu) November 24, 2020
“The chick is now big enough that it has joined our creche. In the wild, at this age, the chick’s rapid growth becomes so demanding that both parents must leave the chick behind and go to sea together to feed. The chicks all huddle together in a creche to wait for their parents to return.”
Right now, Sphen and Magic are enjoying their much-deserved break . Meanwhile, the keepers are enjoying their bonding time with the chicks as they wait for their adult feathers to fully develop. And when that time comes, the chicks will then be ready for their swimming lessons and to join the colony full-time.
People online expressed their love and support for the adorable penguin dads
Source: SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Website | Facebook | YouTube