Magic and Sphen were more than just penguins; they were a globally recognized same-sex couple whose love story resonated far and wide, inspiring lessons in schools and even a pride parade float. Now, Magic is mourning the loss of his beloved partner, Sphen, and has led their penguin community in a heartfelt tribute song.
Sphen passed away earlier this month, just shy of his 12th birthday, the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium announced on Thursday. For a Gentoo penguin in captivity, reaching 12 years is considered a long life, as they typically live up to 13 years.
“The loss of Sphen is deeply felt by the entire penguin colony, our team, and everyone who has been touched by Sphen and Magic’s story,” said Richard Dilly, the aquarium’s general manager, in a statement.
Sphen, pictured left, died aged 11 at the aquarium.Sea Life Sydney Aquarium via AFP - Getty Images
To help Magic cope with his loss, the aquarium allowed him to spend time with Sphen's body, so he could understand that his partner would not be returning. According to Dilly, Magic began singing, and the other penguins in the colony joined in.
Sphen and Magic captured the world’s attention in 2018 when they started gathering pebbles to build a nest together and became inseparable, often seen waddling and swimming side by side.
The couple spent nearly six years together, which is about half of their average life span. During that time, they expanded their family by co-parenting two chicks: Lara, born in 2018, and Clancy, born in 2020. The public affectionately nicknamed Lara "Sphengic," combining the names of her parents.
“It was a remarkable example of co-parenting by a same-sex couple,” said Vincent Savolainen, a professor of organismic biology at Imperial College London, in an interview with NBC News.
The devoted parents took turns guarding their nest and incubating the egg, with zookeepers noting that Sphen and Magic had a natural talent for parenting. They were even given a real egg from another couple who had two, ensuring that Sphen and Magic could fully participate in the breeding season.
Experts note that same-sex bonds among animals, including birds, are well-documented. These bonds often form out of a shared desire to co-parent. “It’s not uncommon for two birds to team up for co-parenting,” said Savolainen. “There can be various reasons for this, such as the added strength two males might bring in protecting the egg.”
While some debate whether this behavior is truly homosexual, there's no denying that Sphen and Magic's love story transcended their fame. They became icons of LGBTQ+ representation, not just in Australia but globally.
Their bond was unique even outside the breeding season, which is rare for Gentoo penguins, according to the zoo. Their celebrity status led to inflatable versions of them being featured at the Sydney pride parade in 2021. Last year, their story was also included in educational resources in New South Wales schools to teach children that "love comes in all shapes and sizes."
“Sphen and Magic are more than just a touching love story — their global impact as a symbol of equality cannot be measured,” the zoo said in its statement.
Their relationship has been chronicled in numerous books, documentaries, and even the Netflix series "Atypical." Their fame has also helped the zoo raise awareness about the threats facing their species, such as pollution and climate change.
Sphen and Magic are not the only same-sex penguin couple to make headlines. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York, is home to another male penguin couple, Elmer and Lima, who became proud parents in 2022. Additionally, a male couple at a Dutch zoo made news in 2020 when they took over the nest of a lesbian pair, a year after stealing an egg from a heterosexual couple.
In 2019, the Sea Life Aquarium in London introduced the world’s first “genderless” penguin chick, parented by another same-sex penguin couple, Rocky and Marama.
Rachel Ankler, a spokesperson for the Sydney aquarium, told NBC News that they would provide an update on Magic’s condition and the upcoming breeding season in the coming weeks.
“Given Magic’s age, he may never bond with another penguin again,” Savolainen said. “However, there’s still a possibility that he could form a new partnership with either a male or female penguin.”