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Sydney Aquarium's Sphen and Magic are officially proud dads.
The two male Gentoo penguins, known collectively as Sphengic, were recently given a boost to incubate and raise, after the same-sex couple showed excellent parenting skills with the dummy egg they had been given prior.
On Oct. 19 the couple's foster egg, which came from an aquarium penguin who had ugly two, hatched. The unnamed chick weighed only 91 grams at birth, but is doing well.
The aquarium says that Sphen and Magic's exceptional co-parenting skills have continued, and that both are doing a great job looking after the chick.
"Baby Sphengic has already stolen our hearts! We love watching the proud parents and taking turns caring for their baby chick, "Tish Hannan, Penguin Department Supervisor at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, said in a statement. "With that said, the first day of life is the most vulnerable, so it is very important to be happy, healthy and well fed by his parents."
Once this is over, the penguins' keepers will be able to determine the sex of the chick, after which they will start taking suggestions.
For now, Sphen and Magic are focused on feeding their new arrival to 10 times a day. After about 5 to 6 weeks, when the chick is bigger and has lost some of its baby fluff, it will start getting swimming lessons.
Sydney Aquarium's Penguin Expedition exhibit. Fans of the "it couple"
