MELBOURNE – Sphen, the elder partner in a world-famous same-sex penguin couple celebrated in Australian schoolbooks and an annual gay rights parade, has passed away at 11 years old, as announced by a Sydney aquarium on Thursday.
Sphen and his male gentoo penguin partner Magic, now 8 years old, gained international attention in 2018 when they built a pebble nest together with hopes of raising chicks at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium.
Their story continued to capture global interest as they successfully nurtured two chicks in 2018 and 2020. Their union was commemorated with a float at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, became part of the New South Wales state education curriculum, and was featured in the Netflix series “Atypical.” Their remarkable relationship has been documented in books and film documentaries.
While penguin partners commonly share parenting duties, instances of same-sex couples in captivity adopting eggs have been known to occur sporadically.
The aquarium confirmed Sphen’s passing earlier this month, without disclosing the exact date or cause of death. Typically, the species has a lifespan of 12 to 13 years.
Aquarium manager Richard Dilly hailed Sphen as an “icon” whose unique bond with Magic had a positive global impact.
“Sphen and Magic’s love story captivated the world, and it has been a privilege to host both local and international admirers, some of whom traveled long distances to witness their bond firsthand,” Dilly remarked.
“Sphen and Magic shared an extraordinary connection unlike most other penguin pairs – their togetherness extended beyond the breeding season, a rarity for gentoo penguins,” Dilly added.
In a poignant moment, Animal carers allowed Magic to bid farewell to Sphen’s body, aiding in his understanding that they won’t be together for the upcoming breeding season.
“As soon as we introduced Magic to Sphen, he started singing, with the other penguins joining in harmony. It was a deeply moving experience,” shared aquarium supervisor Renee Howell.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in the penguin exhibit at that moment,” Howell added.
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