Sphen, an 11-year-old male gentoo penguin who became an international icon for his same-sex partnership with another male penguin, Magic, has died, according to the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. Sphen’s health deteriorated earlier this month, and the aquarium made the difficult decision to euthanize him to prevent further suffering.
Sphen and Magic's bond began six years ago when they met in a colony of young penguins in Sydney. Despite the playful and flirtatious environment, the two penguins were only interested in each other. They quickly formed a strong connection, engaging in courtship behaviors like bowing, singing, and exchanging pebbles—traditional gestures among gentoo penguins preparing for nesting.
Their relationship was embraced by the aquarium staff, who first gave the couple a dummy egg to foster. Sphen and Magic showed such dedication to caring for the egg that they were eventually entrusted with a real one, after a heterosexual penguin couple neglected their parenting duties. The pair successfully hatched their first chick, Sphengic (now named Lara), in 2018 and hatched another chick, Clancy, in 2020.
Their story gained global attention, especially after Australia legalized same-sex marriage in 2017. Sphen and Magic became symbols of hope and acceptance within the LGBTQ+ community, with their relationship being celebrated in Pride parades, documentaries, and even an episode of the Netflix series “Atypical.” In 2023, their story was included in New South Wales’ school curriculum as a resource for teaching about family and relationships.
The couple’s fame attracted visitors from around the world, who came to the Sydney aquarium to see the devoted pair. Unusually for gentoo penguins, Sphen and Magic spent time together even outside of the breeding season, highlighting the depth of their bond.
With Sphen's passing, Magic, who is now 9 years old, faces his first breeding season without his partner. The loss has been deeply felt by the aquarium staff, the penguin colony, and those inspired by Sphen and Magic’s story. To help Magic grieve, the aquarium allowed him to see Sphen one last time. According to the aquarium team, Magic began to sing, and the rest of the penguin colony joined in a communal mourning.
Richard Dilly, the general manager at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, expressed the impact of Sphen’s loss, stating, “The loss of Sphen is heartbreaking to the penguin colony, the team, and everyone who has been inspired or positively impacted by Sphen and Magic’s story.”
