The loss of a loved one is incredibly sad. And for a monogamous animal — say, for example, a penguin — it is a terrible tragedy, though we humans don’t know just how much they understand or feel. But under ordinary circumstances, a penguin’s loss can be overcome when he or she finds another mate from their large community, and is able to continue breeding and increasing the herd . . . which, for penguins at least, is the real purpose of mating in the first place.

But what happens when one member of a gay penguin couple dies?

So you didn’t know that was a possibility? Never heard of Sphen and Magic, the Australian gentoo penguins who fell in love at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium in 2018, and later adopted and raised two chicks together? Neither had I, until this week when I read about the loss of Sphen; and considering that they were world-famous, I must have been living under a rock not to have known about them. But I do now; and being a lover of penguins anyway (if you’ve ever seen Happy Feet, you’ll understand), I found the couple’s story particularly touching.

Magic and Sphen had been together for six years, Sphen being older by three years. The staff at the Aquarium noticed them bowing to each other one day, which is a gentoo way of flirting. And in the years since then, they had become a symbol of equality around the world, even inspiring a Mardi Gras float, being referenced in Australia’s education syllabus, and featured in the Netflix series Atypical. [Tiffanie Turnbull, BBC News, August 21, 2024.] Nobody was bothered by the fact that they were gay.

Gentoo penguins have an average life expectancy of 12 to 13 years. Sphen was 11 when his health began to deteriorate, and the decision was made to euthanize him to end his suffering. Magic, who is just eight years old, was taken to see Sphen’s body so that he would understand his partner would not be returning. It was reported that Magic immediately began singing, and was joined by others in the penguin colony. [Id.]

It seems they understand quite a lot.

His obituary noted that he is also survived by Sphengic and Clancy, their two fostered chicks.

You may have thought in the beginning that this was going to be a humorous piece; but it isn’t. I am heartbroken for Magic, and concerned that he may never find another partner to share the rest of his life. But I will try to follow his story from now on, and rest assured — I will share my findings with you.

In the meantime, my condolences to all of the good people at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium who are in mourning for Sphen, and who I know are taking the best possible care of Magic, Sphengic, Clancy, and the rest of the colony.

I wish I could have known this special couple.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
8/23/24