Lesbian penguin couple become first-time mums
The chick was born to same-sex parents Marama and Rocky four months ago. (Sea Life London/ Instagram)
A lesbian penguin couple at Sea Life London aquarium have become parents to a little chick during Pride month.
The two female Gentoo penguins, Marama and Rocky, hatched an egg given to them by staff after another penguin mother couldn’t handle the pressure of two babies. The chick’s sibling has also hatched.
The couple have been together for five years, and have been proving themselves by building the biggest nest in the colony for the new addition to their family.
The chick’s gender and name have not yet been revealed.
The proud penguin mums, Marama and Rocky. (Sea Life London/ Instagram)
The lesbian penguin couple are “completely unflappable”
According to Metro, general manager at Sea Life Graham McGrath said: “Marama and Rocky have taken to becoming parents like ducks to water – or should I say penguins.
“Caring for a newborn is tough for anyone, from the sleepless nights to the constant feeding, yet this wonderful pair of penguin parents are completely unflappable and seem to be taking it all in their stride.”
Gentoo penguins are monogamous and mate for life, and many species of the flightless bird have been observed in same-sex relationships both in captivity and in the wild.
Sea Life London is not the only place celebrating resident gay penguins this Pride month.
London Zoo’s penguin beach has had a makeover for Pride to celebrate the three same-sex Humboldt penguin couples that live there by putting up a mini banner that reads: “Some penguins are gay, get over it.”
It is also not rare for same-sex penguin couples to parent chicks, and at San Francisco Zoo a pair of male Magellanic penguins have been fostering the chicks most important to the breeding program because staff say they are “fantastic parents.”
