Farewell to gay penguin Sphen: Heartbreaking end of a world-famous love story

Sphen and Magic, the penguins, had become symbols of love and compassion by staying together for six years and even raising two penguins together. When Sphen died, magic couldn't stop mourning his loss. His song inspired the entire penguin colony to join in his grief. Gentoo penguins have the unique ability to make sounds ranging from honking to screaming, which their partners can distinguish from the voices of other penguins.
Sphen died of natural causes earlier this month, just days before his 12th birthday. According to the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium, Sphen had a long life in captivity. Sphen was a gentoo penguin, a species that normally has an average life expectancy of 12 to 13 years. Richard Dilly, the aquarium's general manager, said in a press release on Thursday: “The loss of Sphen is devastating for the penguin Colony, the team and everyone who has been inspired or positively influenced by the story of Sphen and Magic.”
Sphen and Magic even stayed together outside of the breeding season, which was unheard of among gentoo penguins. Aquarium staff first noticed the attraction between the two in 2018 when they were seen swimming together. The pair built a nest together, and when staff saw that they could take care of a fake egg, they gave the couple a real egg to hatch. They managed to hatch two chicks – Sphengic (Lara) in 2018 and Clancy in 2020. The aquarium never missed an opportunity to publicize this love story and raise awareness about global warming, plastic pollution, the negative impact on Marine animalsand the importance of protecting wild penguins. People came from all over the world to see them in real life.
It is not uncommon for penguins same-sex relationshipsThe very first case was observed about 50 years ago, and similar behavior has been observed in some penguins in zoos in Berlin, Toronto and New York's Central Park Zoo.
Sphen and Magic's love story has inspired a float in Sydney's world-famous Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. They have also been featured in the Netflix series Atypical, in which the autistic protagonist is obsessed with penguins, and in the curriculum in New South Wales.
The aquarium is now focusing on Magic, who is nine years old and preparing for his first breeding season without sphene.