Sphen, Penguin Whose Gay Love Story Earned Global Fame, Dies
Sphen, a male gentoo penguin whose enduring partnership with another male penguin in the colony led them to become international queer icons, has died, according to the Sydney aquarium that housed them.
He was 11. The penguin died earlier this month after his health deteriorated, the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium team said in an email.
The aquarium did not give additional information on his ailment but said that it made the difficult decision to euthanize Sphen, “easing him of any pain or discomfort.” For Sphen and Magic, a summer meet cute in Sydney sparked their six-year partnership.
Sphen, three years older, had come from SeaWorld, while Magic was born in an aquarium in Melbourne. In a colony of young, flirty penguins at Sea Life, the two had eyes only for each other: bowing, singing and bringing each other pebbles for a potential future nest, according to penguin keepers.
