Not once, but twice!
Back in 2018, the staff at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, Australia, noticed a same-sex penguin couple - Sphen and Magic. The two male penguins used to take swims together and were rarely apart.
Soon after the breeding season started, the caring couple began collecting stones for their nest. Then the staff noticed they were trying to hatch a rock. Impressed how well Sphen and Magic cared for their “egg”, the zookeepers placed a real egg for them to foster.
Everyone at the Aquarium was happy when the proud dads gave life to their first chick - Lara. This year, Sphen and Magic became foster parents again. They have successfully nurtured an egg for the second time.
“The parent birds treat the chick as their own. They lovingly feed it, keep it warm, and defend it from any passersby,” the zookeepers said.
More penguin stories:
Emperor Penguins: In good news for nature lovers and penguin fans, recent satellite images have identified a raft of new Emperor penguin breeding sites in the Antarctic.
Social Distancing? If you're fed up with social distancing and want to enjoy crowds again, this wonderful video of penguins huddling together for warmth, and organising the sharing rota for the cold outer edge of the crowd, may provide you with some sort of temporary emotional antidote.
A Penguin's Story: This is one of the most heart-warming true tales you're ever likely to read.