Pink News that the two lovebirds had shown a strong parenting skillset the previous year when they were given a dummy egg. This year, she gave the paired Humboldt penguins a fertilized egg and the feathered couple did not disappoint, proving to be excellent parents.“It has been Diego and Zorro’s second time fostering and once again they have smashed it, becoming quite the experts at parenting,” Nicola told the outlet.Nicola said staff at the Oceanarium noticed sparks fly between Diego and Zorro as early as 2017.
It has since grown into a strong and lasting relationship to date, something that is not necessarily the norm among penguins.Zorro (left) and Diego (right) have been an item since 2017“Penguins are free to choose who they want to spend quality time with and in their case, choose each other,” Nicola told Pink News, adding “the welfare and welfare of these animals” is the top priority of the Oceanarium and they “encourage penguins to make their own decisions when it comes to choosing mates.”Diego and Zorro join a long line of same-sex penguin parents and couples.
In January, male Humboldt penguins Elmer and Lima successfully raised a foster chick at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, N.Y., Last year, famed same-sex penguin couple Sphen and Magic shared their three-year anniversary together.