Australia - Same-sex penguin couple at a Sydney aquarium fosters an egg

[Bohemian]

‘A same-sex penguin couple at a Sydney aquarium has become the first in Australia to be handed a foster egg and staff say the two are showing signs they'll be "amazing parents".

Magic and Sphen, two gentoo penguins at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, formed a bond before the 2018 breeding season.

Tish Hannan, the aquarium's penguin department supervisor, said staff suspected love was in the air when they began noticing piles of ice pebbles set up as a nest each day.

"We'd go over there and Magic and Spehn would be bowing to each other," she said.

"Bowing is a gentoo way of saying they love each other, which is super cute."

The couple then began collecting actual pebbles when staff put them out for the breeding season and built a real nest.

They were then given a dummy egg to practice their parenting skills.

"They immediately knew exactly what it was and started incubating it and we're really, really happy," Ms Hannan said.

Keepers then decided to give them a real egg from another couple that had two.’

More at:

Same-sex penguin couple at a Sydney aquarium fosters an egg - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[hylianquinn]

From above link ....

"We're not going to need to step in just because they're males," she said.

"We might step in if it turns out that they're not good parents because of who they are as individuals, but for all the signs we're seeing at the moment they're going to be amazing."





Can someone get these zookeepers a dcs application? Honestly though, faith in humanity restored. Best of luck, penguin daddies. You’re doing great!

 

[3llecia]

This story has made all of this week's wash away and I feel okay for a bit.

 

[Bohemian]

This story has made all of this week's ******** wash away and I feel okay for a bit.

Ditto x

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[tmar]

‘A same-sex penguin couple at a Sydney aquarium has become the first in Australia to be handed a foster egg and staff say the two are showing signs they'll be "amazing parents".

Magic and Sphen, two gentoo penguins at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, formed a bond before the 2018 breeding season.

Tish Hannan, the aquarium's penguin department supervisor, said staff suspected love was in the air when they began noticing piles of ice pebbles set up as a nest each day.

"We'd go over there and Magic and Spehn would be bowing to each other," she said.

"Bowing is a gentoo way of saying they love each other, which is super cute."

The couple then began collecting actual pebbles when staff put them out for the breeding season and built a real nest.

They were then given a dummy egg to practice their parenting skills.

"They immediately knew exactly what it was and started incubating it and we're really, really happy," Ms Hannan said.

Keepers then decided to give them a real egg from another couple that had two.’

More at:

Same-sex penguin couple at a Sydney aquarium fosters an egg - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

What a wonderful article.
As an 'over the top' animal lover, I am very wary, when opening animal articles, as get extremely upset, if there is a sad ending: so am ready to switch off the article instantly.
Cannot watch documentaries on animals etc, because they kill for their prey.

I hope we receive an update here, and we can all become the 'god parents'.
Hope there is a naming competition for the little one, and we receive photos of him/her growing up, loved by this wonderful couple.

 

[tmar]

Hi grannie, thanks for the cute story.
I feel I am stalking you around these threads.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Hi grannie, thanks for the cute story.
I feel I am stalking you around these threads.

And I think I’m the one stalking you and the rest of the AQ crew. It just happens. We all know why. Cause we’re all on the same thought train.

 

[tmar]

And I think I’m the one stalking you and the rest of the AQ crew. It just happens. We all know why. Cause we’re all on the same thought train.

Another feel good article:
31 shelter dogs on the day they get adopted - Her Moments
Photos Of Shelter Dogs The Moment They Realize They're Being Adopted... of a shelter dog's life. See these 31 pups on the first day in their forever homes! ... Photos Of Shelter Dogs The Moment They Realize They're Being Adopted ...

Photos Of Shelter Dogs The Moment They Realize They’re Being Adopted
By Maggie Watson
Her Moments Staff

 

[Bohemian]

Congratulations fellas!

Same-sex penguin couple at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium become parents - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[tmar]

Congratulations fellas!

Same-sex penguin couple at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium become parents - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Thanks Bo, for the great news.
We certainly need these 'feel good' stories.
Just wonderful.
Hope there is a naming competition for the new bub.

 

[Bohemian]

Thanks Bo, for the great news.
We certainly need these 'feel good' stories.
Just wonderful.
Hope there is a naming competition for the new bub.

My pleasure. If there is a naming competition, I’ll post the info here.

 

[tmar]

My pleasure. If there is a naming competition, I’ll post the info here.

Wouldn't that be so much fun, for us kids?

 

[Bohemian]

Wouldn't that be so much fun, for us kids?

That it would!

 

[Bohemian]

It's a girl!

The gender of the foster offspring of Sea Life's 'inseparable' gay penguins has been revealed to the world.

And the penguin chick provisionally named 'Baby Sphengic' is every bit as cute as you would imagine.

​

Gender reveal with a difference: Offspring of 'inseparable' gay penguins is unveiled to the world | Daily Mail Online

 

[tmar]

It's a girl!

The gender of the foster offspring of Sea Life's 'inseparable' gay penguins has been revealed to the world.

And the penguin chick provisionally named 'Baby Sphengic' is every bit as cute as you would imagine.

View attachment 165242​

Gender reveal with a difference: Offspring of 'inseparable' gay penguins is unveiled to the world | Daily Mail Online

So pleased we have a baby girl.
She certainly will soon, if not now, have all loving her.
This little girl, will soon be 'in charge'.

 

[Bohemian]

So pleased we have a baby girl.
She certainly will soon, if not now, have all loving her.
This little girl, will soon be 'in charge'.

They said in the article that they’ve seen her personality shine in the last few weeks, and ‘can confirm she is every bit the diva – or QWEEN - we would expect her to be.'

What a little sweetheart and what great little baby Daddies she has.

 

[Bohemian]

‘Sphen and Magic, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium's same-sex penguin couple, are on their way to becoming parents for the second time.

The pair developed a strong bond in early 2018, and keepers at the aquarium gave the couple a foster egg in October.

Little Sphengic was born at the end of October, and has just celebrated her first birthday.’

‘The pair have proved their worth as parents to baby Sphengic, with keepers saying they are both very loyal and protective.

"Baby Sphengic... had an excellent start to life under their care and while she’s still a bundle of energy and very loud, she’s matured nicely but still quite unsure as to what all the adults are doing this breeding season," Hannan said.

"Sphengic may or may not have a little brother or sister in a few weeks, we’re yet to confirm if the egg is fertile."’

Same-Sex Penguin Couple Stronger Than Ever This Breeding Season

 

[tmar]

‘Sphen and Magic, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium's same-sex penguin couple, are on their way to becoming parents for the second time.

The pair developed a strong bond in early 2018, and keepers at the aquarium gave the couple a foster egg in October.

Little Sphengic was born at the end of October, and has just celebrated her first birthday.’

‘The pair have proved their worth as parents to baby Sphengic, with keepers saying they are both very loyal and protective.

"Baby Sphengic... had an excellent start to life under their care and while she’s still a bundle of energy and very loud, she’s matured nicely but still quite unsure as to what all the adults are doing this breeding season," Hannan said.

"Sphengic may or may not have a little brother or sister in a few weeks, we’re yet to confirm if the egg is fertile."’

Same-Sex Penguin Couple Stronger Than Ever This Breeding Season

Thanks Bo, for keeping us updated about this lovely couple.
Hope we hear more about Sphengic and her ongoing 'career' plus details about more brothers and sisters.