One half of the world-famous gay penguin couple dies in Sydney Aquarium

CNN
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Sphen, an Australian gentoo penguin who became an unexpected global symbol of equality, has died of apparent natural causes at the age of 11, the Sydney aquarium where he lived said Thursday.

Sphen rose to worldwide fame in 2018 when he teamed up with male gentoo penguin Magic after the two were observed waddling and swimming together before the breeding season.

Same-sex penguin power couple Sphengic inspired millions with their unwavering bond and heartwarming family. Together they raised two chicks: Lara, 6, and Clancy, 4.

To help 8-year-old Magic cope with the tragic loss, aquarium staff brought him to Sphen “so he could understand why his partner would not return,” the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium said in a statement.

“He immediately began to sing, which was wonderfully responded to by the colony.”

Richard Dilly, the aquarium's chief executive, said: “The loss of Sphen is heartbreaking for the penguin colony, the team and everyone who has been inspired or positively influenced by the story of Sphen and Magic.”

“We would like to take this opportunity to reflect and celebrate Sphen's life and remember what an icon he was,” he added.

Sphene had a full life for a gentoo penguin, a species with an average life expectancy of about 12 to 13 years.

He and Magic shared an unbreakable bond – the two were often seen together outside of the breeding season, a rarity for their species.

“The team’s focus now is on Magic, who will soon be preparing for his first breeding season without Sphene,” said Dilly.

The couple inspired a carnival float featured in the Netflix series “Atypical” and was included in the school curriculum in their home state of New South Wales, Australia. Their love story has also been featured in numerous books and films, the aquarium said.

In 2018, Sphen and Magic became parents after they were entrusted with hatching a “spare egg” they received from another pair of penguins that had laid two eggs.

Gentoo penguins typically lay two eggs per breeding season, but subantarctic penguins usually only have the opportunity to incubate and raise a single egg, so the “replacement chick” may not survive.

Not in this case. On October 19, 2018, an adorable 91-gram penguin chick named Lara was born to the loving parents. In 2020, the Sphengic family became four after Clancy joined the family.

Sphen and Magic are not the only same-sex penguin couple that has managed to hatch an egg. Couples in New York and Spain have also become parents.

Not only has Sphene helped fight for equal rights, the couple's fame has allowed the aquarium to raise awareness and money for important causes such as conservation, plastic pollution, climate change and the need to protect wild penguins, Sea Life said.

The aquarium's website was flooded with tributes from fans.

“Rest in peace, I hope, little one. What a miracle you were to the world with your beautiful Magic,” Vivienne wrote.

“Rest in peace, champion,” Vicki wrote. “Love knows no boundaries.”