Two male penguins in Sydney are raising an egg together.
Gentoo penguins Magic and Sphen were given the chance to practice their parenthood skills with a dummy egg before zookeepers at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium decided they were ready to adopt a real one.
They were absolute naturals and displayed great care for their egg, so much so, the team at Sea Life Sydney fostered a real egg to them from another couple who had two, the aquarium said in a statement published on their website on Friday (October 12).
Whilst Sphen is older and is excellent at incubating, Magic is younger and still mastering his skill, the statement added.
Zookeepers first noticed that the penguins had formed a very close bond ahead of breeding season. Sphen even gifted Magic a special stone, which zookeepers explained is equivalent to proposing in the love language of penguins.
Signs that the pair wanted to start a family became clear during breeding season, when the pair began hoarding pebbles to build a nest.
The pair were given a dummy egg to incubate.
The two penguins did an incredible job, rotating roles daily. One of the parents would do their best to incubate the egg, while the other patrols the perimeters of the nest, warding off any potential pebble thieves or over-inquisitive neighbours.
The pair make a great team, and there are often days where the egg can not be seen (which is really good for penguin breeding!).
Zookeepers are confident the pair will do a great job of raising the chick once their egg hatches.
