Sphen, a gentoo penguin whose same-sex love story captivated the world, has sadly passed away aged 11.
The Australian gentoo penguin shot to fame in 2018 when news of his male partnership with Magic made global headlines.
Sphen, who was the older of the two penguins, was nearing his 12th birthday when he sadly died.
“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,” Sea Life Sydney Aquarium's general manager Richard Dilly said, per The Independent.
“Sphen and Magic’s love story captivated the world and it’s been an honor to welcome local and international fans, some of whom traveled long distances to see them in real life," Dilly added.
Sphen and Magic's fondness for each other was first noticed by keepers after they collected pebbles to create a nest and were regularly seen waddling around and swimming together.
The power couple spent six years together, successfully adopting and raising two chicks, Lara, who is six years old, and Clancy, who is four.
Dubbed the "penguin power couple", their incredible story was featured in numerous books, documentaries, and even in the Netflix series, Atypical.
“Sphen and Magic are more than just a beautiful love story - their impact around the world as a symbol of equality is immeasurable,” the aquarium said in a statement, cited by ABC News.
“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," they added.
Through the couple's stardom, the aquarium says they have been able to share “important messages on conservation, plastic pollution, global warming, and the importance of protecting wild penguins through fundraising initiatives".
“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,” officials added.
It's been reported that Sphen died of natural causes as he approached his 12th birthday, per The Guardian.
After his passing, the aquarium team brought Magic, aged eight, to see his partner's body to help him understand that his beloved Sphen would not be coming back.
The widower, who is now facing his first breeding season without Sphen, "immediately started singing, which was beautifully reciprocated by the colony,” a spokesperson for the aquarium revealed.
Heartbroken fans of the gay couple took to social media to share their condolences. "Omg… this is so heartbreaking. We love you legend. RIP," one user wrote.
"To live a long life, raising children with a partner, and to be mourned with family singing in honor...may we all be so lucky, so loved," another user said, and a third added: "This just ruined my day??? Noooo RIP."
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