By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
Sphen, a beloved gentoo penguin and half of a world-renowned same sex "power couple," has passed away in Australia at the age of 11. Sphen and his partner Magic gained international fame in 2018 after forming a bond at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, where they adopted and raised two chicks. Their love story inspired a Mardi Gras float, was included in Australia's education curriculum, and was featured in the Netflix series Atypical.
Sea Life Sydney Aquarium praised Sphen's "immeasurable" global impact as a symbol of equality and a champion for conservation efforts. Sphen's health had declined in the days before his death, leading the aquarium's veterinary team to make the difficult decision to euthanize him to alleviate his suffering. An investigation into the cause of his decline is currently underway.
Richard Dilly, the aquarium's general manager, expressed deep sorrow over Sphen's loss, noting the impact he had on the penguin colony, the aquarium staff, and people worldwide who were touched by Sphen and Magic's story. The team is now focused on caring for Magic, who was taken to see Sphen's body to help him understand that his partner would not return. Magic immediately began singing, a behavior echoed by the rest of the penguin colony.
As Magic prepares for his first breeding season without Sphen, the couple's legacy lives on through their fostered chicks, Sphengic (also known as Lara) and Clancy. Sphen and Magic had been together for six years, with staff first noticing their bond when they began bowing to each other a sign of gentoo penguin affection.
The public has been leaving messages of condolence on the aquarium's website, with many acknowledging the couple's significance as icons of equality. One long ime fan, Mark, expressed his sorrow for the Sea Life Sydney team, while another user, Rach, thanked Sphen and Magic for their impact, using the Arabic term "Habibi" to convey affection.
