Sphen, half of gay 'penguin power couple', dies; Sea Life Sydney Aquarium confirms

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 announced that Sphen passed away.

Magic, 8, Sphen's partner, was taken to him after he died so he would understand that Sphen would not come back, reports NBC News . Magic began to sing, and the rest of his colony "beautifully reciprocated", said Richard Dilly, the aquarium’s general manager, in a statement.

"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.

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A love story like no other

Sphen and his partner, Magic, were titled "the penguin power couple" and celebrated six years together. In that time, the same-sex couple adopted two chicks, Sphengic (Lara) in 2018 and Clancy in 2020, and touched the hearts of many, according to a press release published by the aquarium.

Inspiring people around the world

Books, like Sphengic, A True Love is Love Story about Family by Kristy Esson, have been written about the penguin couple and the love they shared.

They have been featured in documentaries, and their romance is included in Australia's school curriculum.

They've also inspired a Mardi Gras float that debuted in Sydney's Mardi Gras about three years ago.

A strange, wholesome romance

Sphen and Magic were inseparable. They even spent time with each other outside of the mating season, which is unusual for gentoo penguins.

Sphen, the eldest of the two, died just before he turned 12 years old, according to the aquarium. He lived a long life, considering that gentoo penguins can live up to 13 years in captivity.

Remembering Sphen: Fans encouraged to leave a message

The aquarium encourages the couple's fans to leave a message of support or a tribute to Sphen in this time of grieving on its website .

The penguin team will then review the messages and tributes before posting them to their website.

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on X, formerly Twitter , Instagram and TikTok : @juliamariegz

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sphen, half of gay 'penguin power couple', dies; Sea Life Sydney Aquarium confirms