Sphen, one half of the world’s most famous gay penguin couple, has died, staff at Australia’s Sea Life Sydney Aquarium said in a press release on Thursday. He left behind his longtime partner Magic – and an iconic legacy.
Aquarium staff said the duo’s love story appeared in books, documentaries, an education curriculum and even inspired a Mardi Gras float. The aquarium said it could use Sphen and Magic’s story to teach lessons about conservation, plastic pollution and global warming.
CBS News
The same-sex gentoo penguin pair became world famous in 2018 when news of their pairing made headlines. Dubbed “Sphengic” and “Sydney’s hottest couple”, the two penguins got close during that year’s breeding season and began collecting pebbles to create a nest.
Encouraged by their bond and loyalty, aquarium staff gave the duo a “dummy egg” to nurture and then eventually a real egg from another penguin pair that had two. The pair protected the egg, switching roles between incubating the nest and guarding its perimeter. The eggs hatchedreveals the couple’s first adopted baby penguin, “Sphengic,” named after his dads’ celebrity names. Two years later, in 2020, the couple became proud parents for the second time with the birth of Clancy,
Sphen was nearly 12 years old when he died, the aquarium said.
After hearing the news of Sphen’s death, well-wishers flooded Sea Life’s website with comments. One writer said: “You were just a penguin, but to all of us your love was so brave and so beautiful.”
Another wrote: “Thank you Sphen and Magic for showing the world that love comes naturally in many forms. Our hearts ache for magic.”
contributed to this report.