Sphen the Aussie gay penguin has died

Heart breaking news from the staff at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium! Sphen and Magic shot to fame in 2018 when news of their same-sex male relationship made global headlines. Dubbed ‘the penguin power couple,’ the adorable and loyal duo celebrated six years together, successfully adopting and raising two chicks – Sphengic (Lara) in 2018 and Clancy in 2020.

Sphen and Magic are more than just a beautiful love story –their impact around the world as a symbol of equality is immeasurable. They inspired a Mardi Gras float, have been included in the NSW education syllabus, and even featured in the Netflix series Atypical. Countless books speak of their love story, even documentaries on same-sex animal couples have featured Sphen and Magic.

Through Sphen and Magic’s fame, the aquarium has been able to share important messages on conservation, plastic pollution, global warming, and the importance of protecting wild penguins through fundraising initiatives.

Richard Dilly, General Manager at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, said, “The loss of Sphen is heartbreaking to the penguin colony, the team and everyone who has been inspired or positively impacted by Sphen and Magic’s story.

“We want to take this opportunity to reflect and celebrate Sphen’s life, remembering what an icon he was, the unique bond he shared with Magic and the positive impact he made in the world.

“Sphen and Magic’s love story captivated the world and it’s been an honour to welcome local and international fans, some of which travelled long distances to see them in real life. The team’s focus is now on Magic, who will soon prepare for his first breeding season without Sphen.”

Sphen and Magic shared a bond unlike most other penguin couples – they could even be found together outside of the breeding season, which is unique for gentoo penguins. Sphen, the older of the two, was nearly twelve years old when he passed away earlier this month. This is considered a long life for a gentoo penguin, the species have an average life span of roughly twelve to thirteen years.

To help Magic, who turns nine in November, process the loss, the team took him to see Sphen so that he could understand his partner wouldn’t return. He immediately started singing, which was beautifully reciprocated by the colony.