When Sphen captured the heart of Magic, a fellow penguin at an aquarium in Sydney, he also won the hearts ... including a pair at a zoo in Syracuse, N.Y., in 2022. Two other male penguin couples ...

Sydney Aquarium has shared devastating news with its worldwide fans today, as it announced the death of the penguin Sphen, one half of the internationally famous same-sex penguin couple.

The 12-year-old gentoo penguin died in early August, leaving behind his partner Magic, according to the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium The SEA ... Hatches One of a U.K. Zoo's First Chicks Since 2018 ...

The duo was also found together outside of their usual breeding season, which according to the zoo is unique for Gentoo penguins. Gentoo penguin Sphen, right, at the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium.

Sphen, an Australian gentoo penguin who became an unlikely global symbol for equality, has died from apparent natural causes at age 11, the aquarium in Sydney where he resided said Thursday.

The zoo said all other species in the aquarium were “currently healthy ... zoo’s official website has already been taken down. Sydney Zoo has confirmed the death of two of its bull sharks.