Sphen, the elder partner in a world-famous same-sex penguin couple, has died at age 11, a Sydney aquarium said Thursday. Sphen and his male Gentoo penguin partner Magic, now aged 8, came to international attention in 2018 when they built a pebble nest together in the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, reports the AP. International interest grew as they adopted and successfully raised two chicks in 2018 and 2020. Their union was celebrated by a float in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, included in the Sydney-based New South Wales state education curriculum, and discussed in the Netflix series Atypical. Their relationship has also been recorded in books and film documentaries.
Penguin mates share their parenting duties, and same-sex couples in captivity have occasionally adopted eggs before. The species' average life span is 12 to 13 years, the aquarium said. Aquarium general manager Richard Dilly described Sphen as an "icon" that had made a positive impact on the world through his unique relationship with Magic. "Sphen and Magic's love story captivated the world and it's been an honor to welcome local and international fans, some of which traveled long distances to see them in real life," Dilly said.
Animal carers took Magic to see his partner's body to help him understand that they will not be together the next breeding season. "The moment we showed him (Magic) to Sphen, he started singing, and then the other penguins also joined in, singing with him. So it was very touching," aquarium supervisor Renee Howell said. "I don't think there was a dry eye in the penguin exhibit in that moment."
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