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Sphen, an 11-year-old Gentoo penguin, passed away at Sydney Sea Life Aquarium. He and his partner, Magic, gained worldwide fame in 2018 when news of their relationship made headlines.
Sphen died of natural causes, just a few days before his 12th birthday. According to Sydney Sea Life Aquarium, Sphen lived a long life in captivity. Gentoo penguins, on average, live 12-13 years.
Over six years together, the pair raised two chicks. Aquarium staff first noticed the attraction between them in 2018 when they were seen swimming together. They were inseparable even outside the breeding season, which is unheard of for Gentoo penguins. The pair built a nest together, and after keepers saw that they could care for a dummy egg, they gave the pair a real egg to incubate. As a result, Lara was born in 2018, and Clancy two years later.
Keepers say that unlike other same-sex penguin pairs, Sphen and Magic were very responsible with their parental duties.They took turns visiting the nest, went out in search of food, and then returned to care for the eggs, sharing the roles equally.
Same-sex relationships are not uncommon among penguins. The first such case was recorded about 50 years ago, and similar behavior has been observed among some penguins in zoos in Berlin, Toronto, and New York's Central Park.
When a penguin dies in the wild, its partner, unaware of what has happened, goes in search of it. Therefore, the zoo staff decided to show Magic and the rest of the colony that Sphen would not return. It turned out to be a very emotional moment: realizing the death of his partner, the penguin first sang loudly, and then began to protect Sphen's body from people and other members of the flock.
Gentoo penguins have a unique ability to make sounds, ranging from cackling to roaring, which their partners can distinguish from the voices of other penguins. In the end, Magic's "funeral song" prompted the entire colony of penguins to join in the mourning. Aquarium staff assured that all their attention is now focused on the well-being of Magic, who will face his first breeding season without his partner.
