Penguins Love Penguins: Sydney’s Gentlemen Take Parenthood to the Next Level
At the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, a pair of gentoo penguins, Sphen and Magic, have upended the usual zoo story by successfully incubating a chick—all while proving that love truly comes in all flippered packages.
How It All Began
The duo first caught the eye by waddling side‑by‑side and taking dip after dip in the tank. Their affectionate antics quickly led to the construction of a shared pebble nest, prompting the keepers to give them a dummy egg. After showing off their nesting chops, the guys were handed a real egg — and a full‑time parental role.
Baby Chick Boot Camp
On Oct 19, their hard‑worked little chick hatched, weighing just 91 g. Since then, Sphen and Magic have been alternating nightly shifts on the tiny hatchling, keeping it warm, feeding it, and watching it grow—all part of the 50‑50 parenting routine common to penguins.
Who Cares Who Calls?
- Recognition skills: They know each other’s unique “signature calls” and can locate one another even when separated.
- Blended roles: In penguins, the division between male and female roles is almost fluff‑free; both dive into the same care duties.
- Same‑sex love: Male‑male setups like this are not uncommon in captivity—though they rarely happen in the wild.
Past Success Stories
This couples’ triumph isn’t a first‑time marvel for the zoo world:
- In 2009, Z and Vielpunkt hatched a chick in Berlin after its heterosexual parents gave it up.
- Two male chinstrap penguins, Roy and Silo, at a New York zoo “stood up” to each other and, after trying a rock, ended up raising a fledgling female named Tango.
The Takeaway
Sea Life Sydney Aquarium’s director, Tish Hannan, believes Sphen and Magic are likely to reunite next breeding season, hinting that this new generation of penguin parents might set the stage for “more than just a flash in the park.” The baby chick’s future looks brighter than a polar summer sunrise!
