Two male penguins in a Danish zoo have adopted a chick, becoming among the first gay-penguin parents in captivity.
The unnamed King penguins began performing mating rituals on each other several years ago at Odense Zoo, and zookeepers noticed both were trying to steal other couples’ eggs during brooding season. (They had even resorted to sitting on dead herring to emulate incubation.
The opportunity for them to become proud parents arose when another penguin, a female, abandoned eggs she laid with several different males. “In the lifetime monogamy of the King penguin world, this is extraordinary,” said zookeeper Nina Christensen. “Now we have an extra egg and this pair that have been standing with fishes.”
The boys parental instincts were tested on a ball first, before they were gradually moved onto the real thing. “With King penguins, they mix it between the male and female. One stands with the egg while the other goes to feed and then they shift. It was the same with this pair—they both incubated the egg,” Christensen says. “The chick hatched about a month ago and the new little family remains separated from the colony while they bond but will soon rejoin them. Penguins recognize their offspring by their distinctive cries, indistinguishable to humans, and this trio are no different.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
In 1998 Rory and Silo, two male Chinstrap penguins, became a couple at the Central Park Zoo and raised a chick, named Tango by zookeepers. Currently there are two male African penguins at the Toronto Zoo, but they’re kid-free for now.
MikeE
I <3 penguins
MickeyP.
Take note! We are everywhere and in all different species! Gotta love nature!
2eo
“ONE MAN PENGUIN AND ONE WOMAN PENGUIN, IT IS GOD LAW POSSIBLY.”
– Avenger, 2012.
streeteditions
Happy feet!!!!!
alterego1980
The photo looks like they are doing it “penguin” style
D P
I think these birds had this all set up from the start! …you could tell, because they were already dressed in tuxedos for the announcement.
Mmmm.. I *love* a man in a tux. I’ll start with David Beckham.
Harley
Hey. I still know religious right wingers believe no homosexuality exists in nature. Unfortunately they only read one book. Religion will continue to exist as long as education is not valued in this country. Religion breeds ignorance. The fact will set one free.