A same-sex penguin in Sydney, Australia whose romance made him a global icon has mourned the death of his beloved partner by bursting into song.
Sphen and his partner Magic shot to fame in 2018 when they fell in love at Sydney's Sea Life Aquarium, later adopting and raising two chicks together. Their heartwarming partnership captivated the world, earning them a spot in the Australian education curriculum and even featuring in the Netflix series Atypical.
After his health deteriorated, the aquarium's veterinary team made the difficult decision to euthanise Sphen. When penguins lose their partners in the wild, they often wander around searching for them. But in a touching gesture, keepers at the zoo showed Magic Sphen's body so he could understand why his partner wouldn't be returning.
"The moment we showed him to Sphen, he started singing, and then the other penguins also joined in," said aquarium supervisor Renee Howell. "It was a very beautiful moment, the air was just filled with their singing."
Howell said staff had never seen this kind of behavior before, but it was a touching send-off for Sphen. Aquarium general manager Richard Dilly described Sphen as an "icon" whose unique relationship with Magic had made a positive impact on the world.
Magic is now entering his first breeding season without his partner but is still collecting pebbles for a nest, which keepers say is a promising sign.
(Source: Metro UK)