Is there a lesson for humans? Sphen the penguin has died aged 11, leaving his same-sex partner Magic to sing alone. Some think we can learn from their loving relationship.
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One half of world-famous couple dies
Is there a lesson for humans? Sphen the penguin has died aged 11, leaving his same-sex partner Magic to sing alone. Some think we can learn from their loving relationship.
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It was a dark day in SydneyThe capital city of the state of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia.. On Wednesday, the Sea Life Aquarium announced the death of gentoo penguinA penguin species with a prominent tail. Sphen, aged 11.
Sphen was known around the world with his relationship with his same-sex partner Magic. When zookeepers brought eight-year-old Magic to see Sphen's body, the younger penguin began singing a sad song.
Sphen and Magic became worldwide stars in 2018, after news of their romance spread. They became powerful symbols of equalityWhen everyone has equal rights and opportunities. .
They hit the news again for adoptingTo take care of another person's child as your own child. and raising a pair of chicks, Sphengic and Clancy. Sphen and Magic built the biggest nest in their penguin colony and kept it warm.
Timing played a role in their rise to the top. For 10 years before, Australian politicians had held fierce arguments over same-sex marriage for humans.
Sphen and Magic's peaceful relationship offered a lesson to humans. For centuries, people in same-sex relationships have faced discriminationWhen people are treated unfairly due to characteristics such as gender, race and age. . HomophobesSomeone who is prejudiced against gay people and relationships. often criticised them as "unnatural".
But here was a sign that LGBTStands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. The initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.+ relationships occurred in nature - and that they could parent a child.
Penguins are not the only non-human animals to have same-sex relationships. Scientists have found evidenceSomething which proves that something else is true. of it in over 1,500 species, from bottlenose dolphins to bonobosA small, intelligent ape found in a small part of Africa..
Gay rights campaigners say we can learn from this.
But others think we should not make claims about humans based on the behaviour of other animals. Cats are often cruel to their preyAnimals hunted and eaten by others. . Baboons kill their own young. So, they say, we should not use animals as a model for humans.
Is there a lesson for humans?
Yes! Same-sex relationships are common in the animal kingdom. The other penguins' respect for Sphen and Magic shows that we should accept and respect LGBT+ relationships too.
No! We cannot pick and choose which bits of animal behaviour we must learn from. Many animals act in very different ways to humans. Sphen and Magic are a wonderful story, but they are not a lesson for humans.
FOR YOUR SUMMER READING CHALLENGE CLUE GO TO STEP SIX IN THE SIX STEPS TO DISCOVERY BELOW.
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Keywords
Sydney - The capital city of the state of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia.
Gentoo penguin - A penguin species with a prominent tail.
Equality - When everyone has equal rights and opportunities.
Adopting - To take care of another person's child as your own child.
Discrimination - When people are treated unfairly due to characteristics such as gender, race and age.
Homophobes - Someone who is prejudiced against gay people and relationships.
LGBT - Stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. The initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.
Evidence - Something which proves that something else is true.
Bonobos - A small, intelligent ape found in a small part of Africa.
Prey - Animals hunted and eaten by others.
One half of world-famous couple dies
Rest in peace: Sphen the gentoo penguin and his partner Magic shot to stardom in 2018 when they fell in love at the Sydney Aquarium, later adopting and raising two chicks. Glossary
Sydney - The capital city of the state of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia.
Gentoo penguin - A penguin species with a prominent tail.
Equality - When everyone has equal rights and opportunities.
Adopting - To take care of another person's child as your own child.
Discrimination - When people are treated unfairly due to characteristics such as gender, race and age.
Homophobes - Someone who is prejudiced against gay people and relationships.
LGBT - Stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. The initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.
Evidence - Something which proves that something else is true.
Bonobos - A small, intelligent ape found in a small part of Africa.
Prey - Animals hunted and eaten by others.