Gentoo penguins Sphen and Magic are being celebrated for their love, the same-sex couple has officially been given the chance to foster their very own egg
Love wins the internet today thanks to Sea Life Sydney’s latest news. According to their website, their same-sex couple, Sphen and Magic have been given a foster egg.
The Gentoo penguins first started bonding before breeding season. The pair were seen swimming together and waddling around their enclosure. They then started collecting pebbles, a common practice before the breeding season, as these make up the nesting space.
“As breeding season fast approached, the couple started collecting ‘pebbles’ to create a nest in their spot, and now have more pebbles than any other couple! Gentoo parents keep their eggs warm on pebble nesting rings scattered throughout the Macquarie Island exhibit.”
“Swapping duties daily, while one of the parents are doing their best to incubate the egg, the other is patrolling the perimeters of the nest, warding off any potential pebble thieves or over-inquisitive neighbours.”
The couple were given a dummy egg so they wouldn’t feel excluded and to help them practice. The pair were absolute naturals in caring for their dummy egg. So when another couple produced two eggs, the team at Sea Life Sydney fostered the real egg to them.
“Whilst Sphen is older and is excellent at incubating, Magic is younger and still mastering his skill. The pair make a great team, and there are often days where the egg can not be seen (which is really good for penguin breeding!).”
This is not the first time same-sex penguin couples have had the chance to incubate and hatch an egg, Roy and Silo from the New York zoo hatched a chick names Tango back in 1998. Their story inspired books and plays.
Watch the moment Sphen places a heart-shaped pebble on the nest below, it will melt your heart.
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