The penguin Sphen, celebrated around the world for being in a long-term, same-sex couple, has died.
The gentoo penguin lived with his male partner Magic at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium in Australia. They became international icons after they successfully fostered two chicks in 2018. The penguins were featured in gay pride parades and documentaries.
The aquarium supervisor, Renee Howell said, after Sphen died, they took his partner, Magic, to Sphen’s body to show that they would not be together for the next breeding season. Once Magic saw Sphen, he “started singing, and then the other penguins also joined in, singing with him,” Howell said. “It was very touching.”
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