Sphen, one-half of Sydney’s famous same-sex penguin couple, has died, leaving behind his devoted partner, Magic.

Sea Life Sydney Aquarium told The New Daily Sphen’s health had deteriorated in the days leading up to his death this week, despite the efforts of a specialist veterinary team and keepers.

The average lifespan of a gentoo penguin is 12 to 13 years; Sphen was 11.

“The difficult decision was made to euthanise him, easing him of any pain or discomfort,” the aquarium said.

Sphen and Magic, eight, made headlines in 2018 when the male gentoo penguins paired up. They were dubbed a “power couple”.

Throughout six years together, Sphen and Magic successfully adopted and raised two chicks; Sphengic (Lara) in 2018 and Clancy in 2020.

Sea Life Sydney Aquarium general manager Richard Dilly said the loss of Sphen was “heartbreaking” for not only the penguin colony and staff, but also for everyone who had been positively affected by Sphen and Magic’s story.

The pair had inspired a Mardi Gras float, were included in the NSW education syllabus, featured in documentaries and books about same-sex animal couples, and were even mentioned in Netflix series Atypical.

“We want to take this opportunity to reflect and celebrate Sphen’s life, remembering what an icon he was, the unique bond he shared with Magic and the positive impact he made in the world,” Dilly said.

“Sphen and Magic’s love story captivated the world and it’s been an honour to welcome local and international fans, some of which travelled long distances to see them in real life.

“The team’s focus is now on Magic, who will soon prepare for his first breeding season without Sphen.”

Although gentoo penguin pairs are typically monogamous only during breeding seasons, Sphen and Magic were unique in that they were found together outside of the season as well.

To help Magic process the loss, he was taken to see Sphen after the latter’s died so that he could understand his partner wouldn’t return. Magic reportedly started singing immediately, and was joined in song by the rest of the colony.

Then-penguin department supervisor Tish Hannan told the ABC in 2018 staff suspected Sphen and Magic had paired when they began noticing the penguins bowing to each other and piles of ice pebbles set up as a nest each day.

Sphen and Magic built a real nest out of actual pebbles when staff provided them for breeding season, and were given a fake egg to practise their parenting skills.

Magic (left) and Sphen (right) with their first chick, Sphengic. Photo: Sea Life Sydney Aquarium

Keepers decided to give the pair a real egg from another couple that had two.

Because gentoo penguins split parenting responsibilities equally between feeding and incubation, Hannan said there was essentially no difference between a male-female and same-sex pairing.

“We’re not going to need to step in just because they’re males,” she told ABC.

“We might step in if it turns out that they’re not good parents because of who they are as individuals. But for all the signs we’re seeing at the moment, they’re going to be amazing.”