Gay penguin died

Two years later, in , the couple became proud parents for the second time with the birth of Clancy. Cara Tabachnick Cara Tabachnick is a news editor at CBSNews. Sphen, one-half of the world's most famous gay penguin couple, has died, staff at Australia's Sea Life Sydney Aquarium said Thursday in a news release.

Sphen the gentoo penguin - one half of a world-famous same-sex "power couple" - has died in Australia, aged He and his partner Magic shot to global stardom in when they fell in love at. Cara began her career on the crime beat at Newsday. Caitlin O'Kane contributed to this report.

The same-sex gentoo penguin couple shot to global fame in when news of their pairing made headlines. Sphen the gentoo penguin — one half of a world-famous gay penguin couple — has died at 11 of natural causes. Sphen, a male gentoo penguin whose enduring partnership with another male penguin in the colony led them to become international queer icons, has died, according to the Sydney aquarium that.

Sphen, half of the gay gentoo penguin couple who captured hearts around the world, has died, leaving staff and penguins at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium "heartbroken." On Thursday, the aquarium. Cara Tabachnick is a news editor at CBSNews. Sphen, one-half of the world's most famous gay penguin couple, has died, staff at Australia's Sea Life Sydney Aquarium said Thursday in a news release.

The pair protected the egg, swapping roles between incubating the nest and guarding its perimeter. Encouraged by their bond and loyalty, aquarium staff gave the duo a "dummy egg" to nurture and then eventually a real egg from another penguin couple who had two. Sphen and his 8-year-old partner Magic, who hail from Sydney’s Sea Life Aquarium first gained international attention in , after news of their relationship made headlines.

After hearing news of Sphen's death, well-wisher comments flooded Sea Life's website. She reports on justice and human rights issues. One writer said, "You were just being a penguin, but to us all, your love was so brave and so beautiful. More from CBS News. Penguin receives orthopedic boots.

Our hearts ache for Magic. Trainee doctor accused of recording video of colleagues in restrooms. Dubbed "Sphengic" and "Sydney's hottest couple," the two penguins became close during that year's breeding season and started collecting pebbles to create a nest. Aquarium staff said the duo's love story appeared in books, documentaries, an education syllabus and even inspired a Mardi Gras float.

Another wrote, "Thank you Sphen and Magic for showing the world that love naturally comes in many forms. The aquarium said it was able to use Sphen and Magic's story to teach lessons about conservation, plastic pollution and global warming. tabachnick cbsinteractive. She has written for Marie Claire, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.

He left behind his long-term partner Magic — and an iconic legacy. Contact her at cara. The news comes six years after Sphen and Magic, two males, amazed aquarium staff with their romance and deep commitment. But sadly, Sphen has died, Sea Life Sydney Aquarium announced on Thursday.

Staff said they took Magic, who turns nine in November, to see the body so he could understand "his partner wouldn't return. The egg hatched , revealing the pair's first adopted penguin baby, "Sphengic," named after its dads' celebrity moniker. 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.

Sphen was nearly 12 years old when he died, said the aquarium.