Sphen, right, with Magic at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
Tributes have poured in after one half of a same-sex penguin couple died in an aquarium in Australia.
Sphen, a gentoo penguin who was nearly 12, and his partner Magic achieved global fame in 2018 after staff at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium noticed the two males building a nest together and gave them an egg to incubate. Their relationship would inspire a float in Sydney’s Mardi Gras parade and feature in the Netflix series Atypical.
Staff took Magic to see Sphen’s body so he could understand that he would not be coming home. When he reached Sphen, Magic immediately started singing, followed shortly afterwards by the other 45 penguins in the colony.
Gentoo penguins can make sounds ranging from honks to brays which their partners can usually identify from the voices of other penguins in the colony.
Rachel Dilly, general manager at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, said: “Sphen and Magic’s love story captivated the world and it’s been an honour to welcome local and international fans.
“The team’s focus is now on Magic, who will soon prepare for his first breeding season without Sphen.”
