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Same-sex penguin mourns death of his partner by bursting into song
Metro (U.K.) ^ | Aug 22, 2024 | Tom Sanders

Posted on 09/05/2024 9:03:25 PM PDT by nickcarraway

A penguin whose same-sex romance made them global icons has mourned the death of his beloved partner by bursting into song.

Sphen and his partner Magic shot to stardom in 2018 when they fell in love in Sydney’s Sea Life Aquarium, later adopting and raising two chicks together.

International interest in the couple grew as they shared parenting duties and raised their children together. Their partnership was celebrated by a float in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, included in the Australian education curriculum and even saw them featured in the Netflix series Atypical. Their relationship has also been recorded in books and film documentaries.

But after his health began to rapidly deteriorate earlier this week, the aquarium’s veterinary team made the difficult decision to euthanize Sphen and end his suffering, just a few days before his 12th birthday.

When penguins lose their partners in the wild, they often wander around looking for them. But in an unusual move, keepers at the zoo instead decided to show Magic Sphen’s body so he could see that he had passed and understand why his partner wouldn’t be returning to him.

‘The moment we showed him (Magic) to Sphen, he started singing, and then the other penguins also joined in, singing with him. So it was very touching,’ said aquarium supervisor Renee Howell.

‘It was a very beautiful moment, the air was just filled with their singing. It showed the impact Sphen had on his partner and that Magic actually recognised that his partner was there.

‘Soon after, he became quite protective of his partner and that was a very emotional time for us, but we needed to do that in order for him to hopefully comprehend what had happened.’

Howell said staff at the aquarium had never seen this kind of behaviour occur before, and weren’t quite sure what the singing meant.

‘But in that moment for us, it was a beautiful send-off’ she added, and said there wasn’t a dry eye in the exhibit during the performance.

Aquarium general manager Richard Dilly described Sphen as an ‘icon’ whose unique relationship with Magic had made a positive impact on the world.

‘Sphen and Magic’s love story captivated the world and it’s been an honour to welcome local and international fans, some of which travelled long distances to see them in real life,’ he said.

‘Sphen and Magic shared a bond unlike most other penguin couples – they could even be found together outside of the breeding season, which is unique for gentoo penguins,’ Dilly added.

Magic is now entering his first breeding season without his partner, but is still collecting pebbles for a nest, which keepers say is a promising sign.


TOPICS: Pets/Animals; Society
KEYWORDS:
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To: nickcarraway

I thought this was describing a new Disney movie......


21 posted on 09/06/2024 4:13:22 AM PDT by Mopp4 ("It is a cruel world, Herr Hauptman. You said it yourself.")
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To: llevrok

Definitely show tunes.

CC


22 posted on 09/06/2024 4:22:48 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (My cats are more amusing than 200 channels worth of TV.)
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To: SaveFerris

Agreed. They want us to believe that he was bipengual.


23 posted on 09/06/2024 5:21:26 AM PDT by Tell It Right (1 Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: nickcarraway
My two male parakeets are always talking and kissing and fighting each other. They have also paired up with the two females in the cage. They must be bisexual.
24 posted on 09/06/2024 6:23:02 AM PDT by kickstart ("A gun is a tool. It is only as good or as bad as the man who uses it" . Alan Ladd in 'Shane' )
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To: nickcarraway

The bent folk always looking for validation.

When they can’t find it, they make stuff up.


25 posted on 09/06/2024 6:26:09 AM PDT by Biblebelter
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To: nickcarraway

“If they were gay, why would they be interested in chicks? Huh?”
.

If they were gay, why would they be interested in chicks? Huh? Huh? Huh?

;)


26 posted on 09/06/2024 6:53:45 AM PDT by Does so (Why is our PRINT-media being crafted by foreigners? 🇺🇦.....)
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To: nickcarraway
This can't be real. They are torturing these penguins.

No, it is real, though a penguin’s reproductive organs are internal. However, the perversion this celebrated couple is used for is based upon the premise that if something is practiced in the animal kingdom, then it sets a positive example for humans to follow.

Yet there are animals that eat their mate, which include:

Praying mantis
Black widow spider
Jumping spider
Chinese mantis
Scorpions

Sexual cannibalism is when an animal, usually the female, cannibalizes its mate prior to, during, or after copulation. It is a trait observed in many arachnid orders, several insect and crustacean clades, gastropods, and some snake species.

And animals that eat their own kind, including their young.

27 posted on 09/06/2024 7:23:21 AM PDT by daniel1212 (Turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves damned+destitute sinners on His acct, believe, b baptized+follow HIM)
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To: nickcarraway

They did not fall in love.

They did not have a sexual relationship.

Good grief.


28 posted on 09/06/2024 8:35:00 AM PDT by Persevero (You cannot comply your way out of tyranny. )
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To: noiseman; Chode; SkyDancer; Salamander; Carriage Hill; Lockbox; MtnClimber; nascarnation; ...
see if I can spot any meteors approaching.

Let us hope that it is a massive one !!! I kept telling Myself that this was The Babylon Bee. I knew it wasn't but I kept Praying that it was.


29 posted on 09/06/2024 1:44:34 PM PDT by mabarker1 ( (Congress- the opposite of PROGRESS!!! A fraud, a hypocrite, a liar. I'm a member of Congress!!!)
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To: mabarker1

So homosexuals have to appeal to animals for validation of their lifestyle?

Do they realize the message they are sending about their chosen lifestyle?

*See. I’m just like an animal.*

Ummmm, do you REALLY want to go there???


30 posted on 09/06/2024 3:18:41 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus”)
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To: nickcarraway

Back in the day when wildlife shows had fewer agendas, they used to mention that penguins nesting instinct was so strong they would fight over chicks to adopt (sometimes killing them). This behavior had nothing to do with sex.


31 posted on 09/06/2024 3:24:04 PM PDT by Varda
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