As we wait with bated breath for an update from Sydney's very own gay penguins, Sphen and Magic, the international gay penguin community continues to make headlines.
The Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium in Ireland has revealed that it's now the home to not one, but two same-sex penguin couples. Back in 2014, the same Aquarium made news when it announced that it had raised a pair of female penguins who had rejected the males and coupled up.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror last week, the aquarium’s manager Louise Overy updated zoo-goers: “We [now] have two homosexual and two lesbian ones. You cannot tell a male penguin from a female by their sexual organs so the only way we know is when we see them mating and not producing chicks.”
She added: “The lesbian ones (named Penelope and Misty) will take action if they feel broody. They will waddle over to a male to do what needs to be done and rear the chick with their female partner.”
Lesbian couple Penelope and Misty. Source: The Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium
Overy said that the penguins “woo each other with stones” which are then used to build a cosy nest to share.
“It’s far cheaper than diamond rings and flowers!”
