Sphen, one half of a world-famous same-sex penguin couple, dies at the age of 11 in the Sydney Aquarium

Sphen, one half of the world-famous same-sex penguin couple “Sphengic”, has died of apparent natural causes at the age of 11, according to the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. Sphen and his partner Magic, an 8-year-old male gentoo penguin, rose to international fame in 2018 for their unique bond and successful parenting of two chicks, Lara and Clancy.

The aquarium announced the news on Thursday, saying it allowed Magic to see Sphen's body to help him understand why his mate would not return. “He immediately began singing, which was beautifully reciprocated by the colony,” the statement said.

Richard Dilly, the aquarium's general manager, expressed the profound impact Sphen's death has had on the penguin colony and the team. “The loss of Sphen is heartbreaking for the penguin colony, the team and everyone who was inspired or positively impacted by the story of Sphen and Magic,” Dilly said. He added: “We want to take this opportunity to reflect on and celebrate Sphen's life and remember what an icon he was.”

Sphen has had a full life for a gentoo penguin, whose average life expectancy is between 12 and 13 years. He and Magic have often been seen together outside of the breeding season, which is unusual for their species. The pair became parents in 2018 when they successfully incubated a “spare egg”, resulting in the birth of their first chick, Lara. Two years later, they welcomed another chick, Clancy.

Sphen and Magic's story has inspired a carnival float, been featured in the Netflix series Atypical and is included in New South Wales school curricula. Their fame has also enabled the aquarium to raise awareness of environmental conservation efforts, including issues such as plastic pollution and climate change.

Tributes from fans poured in on the aquarium's website. One follower, Vivienne, wrote: “Hope you rest in peace little guy. What a miracle you were to the world with your beautiful Magic.” Another follower, Vicki, simply wrote: “Rest in peace you champion. Love knows no boundaries.”