‘Gay’ penguins successfully hatch baby chick and taking turns to care for it
https://metro.co.uk/2018/10/26/gay-penguins-successfully-hatch-baby-chick-and-taking-turns-to-care-for-it-8076314/?ito=cbshare
Sphen and Magic the Gentoo penguins are happy to announce the arrival of a chick that they are taking turns to look after. The same-sex couple are said to be ‘doting’ on their tiny offspring who was born on October 19 weighing just over 3ozs at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. They have called him Sphengic. Sphen and Magic had caught the attention of aquarium workers when they were constantly seen waddling around and going for swims together.
ペンギンはオスメスが交代で子育てに参加する。
ホモセクシャルな行動をとるペンギンは珍しくないが、とうぜん卵は産めないので子供をそだてることにはならない。
飼育下にあるペンギンでホモセクシャルな行動をとるものに卵をあたえるときちんと温めて育てるそうで、このようなケースは世界中の動物園で報告されているとのこと。