When a gay male penguin died, the partner of that penguin led his colony to sing
Sphen & Magic Photo: YouTube screencapture
Sphen of Magic and Sphen – a pair gay gentoo gentoos who were known all over the world for their love tale – tragically died earlier this month. Magic, the leader of their penguin group, sang a song in honor of his beloved partner. The Sydney Life Aquarium announced that Sphen passed away just before his 12th Birthday. In a statement, the aquarium’s general manager, Richard Dilly, said, “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.”
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Magic was taken to see Sphen’s body so the penguin “could understand his partner wouldn’t return,” said Dilly.
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When he saw his partner’s body, Dilly said that Magic began singing. The colony responded beautifully to his singing. The aquarium stated that the pair were “constantly seen waddling and swimming together in the Penguin Expedition” when it gave them the egg. Vincent Savolainen of Imperial College London’s organismic biology department told NBC News that the pair was a great example of coparenting. Sphen and Magic have featured in countless books, documentaries, and other same-sex animal couples. Countless books speak of their love story, even documentaries on same-sex animal couples have featured Sphen and Magic.”
The two “shared a bond unlike most other penguin couples – they could even be found together outside of the breeding season, which is unique for gentoo penguins.”
“Sphen and Magic are more than just a beautiful love story – their impact around the world as a symbol of equality is immeasurable.”
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