Australian penguin Sphen, one half of famed same-sex couple, dies at 11 years old

The penguin in a world famous same-sex penguin couple has died in a Sydney aquarium at 11 years old. Sea Life Sydney Aquarium said on Thursday the gentoo penguin Sphen had died this month. He and his 8-year-old partner Magic came to international attention in 2018 when they built a pebble nest together in the hope of raising chicks in their enclosure. International interest grew as they adopted and successfully raised two chicks in 2018 and 2020. Their union was celebrated by a float in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, they were discussed in the Netflix series “Atypical” and were included in the Sydney-based New South Wales state education curriculum.