- Bremerhaven Zoo in Bremen ... found that three of the zoo's five penguin pairs were homosexual.
Keepers at the zoo ordered DNA tests to be carried out on the penguins after they had been mating for years without producing any chicks.
It was only then they realised that six of the birds were living in homosexual partnerships.
Director Heike Kueck said ... that the birds had been mating for years and one couple even adopted a stone that they protected like an egg.
Maybe they should let that couple adopt?
Article comments
1 - JR
Sounds like the penguins themselves didn't know. See what happens when women dress like men?
2 - Anna
So these two penguins are standing on an iceberg. One penguin says to the other: You look like you're wearing a tuxedo. The other penguin replies: Who says I'm not?
3 - Eric Olsen
sounds like the sociology of a prison
4 - Angela Chen Shui
"The Rainbow flag needs to have black and white"
This carried me off-tangent to remembering those pigment rules for we artists and the refraction explanation for the rainbow...
Other than that, 'natural' yet 'sinful' cohabitation?
Wonder what will befall them after all the tests? Forceful separation?
5 - RJ
While I don't exactly find it "cute" I do find it interesting...
6 - Steve S
Homosexuality has been documented in animals for a long time. Not just those in captivity but wild animals as well.
Wild dolphins may engage in same sex as a display of dominance, other species like birds (not just penguins) and simians can develop relationships and show grief over the loss of a loved one, refusing to leave the corpse.
7 - RJ
Animals are gay, humans are gay, whatever. That's not exactly news.
It's either genetic or biological. In other words, gay people cannot help but BE gay!
Have fun, do your thing. Be natural. Be glad you live in a free society that generally does not look down upon this "different" lifestyle.
Just, you know, don't ask me to show up at your "wedding." Civil Union? Sure, I'll stop by. I'm a great gift-giver at such big occasions!
But don't call it marriage. The majority of America thanks you...
8 - Steve S
RJ, are you worried about receiving a wedding invitation? I don't think you need to worry about being placed in a situation that is so uncomfortable for you, I think that would be a pretty unlikely possibility.
9 - bhw
Do penguins have weddings?
10 - Steve S
Penguins are just like everybody else. They jam like the rest of us. Penguins do everything from clubbing to exchanging their Herring Vows. What is not known though, is whether or not they have knees.
11 - bhw
All of that, and the males keep their babies warm on their feet. What's not to love?
12 - Steve S
That first link gets the '&' symbol cut off the URL. This:
&numpix=4
needs to be added to the end of the URL.
13 - smegma
Let's not make fun of the poor confused penguins. Remember it's HIV/AIDS awareness week. Let's see if we can get all the 'hi-riskers' to go in and get check out/tested.
14 - Steve S
Apparently, not even the penguins are immune from the compassion of the Right.
15 - Steve S
Update: True love prevails.
Wow, that was fast, huh? Someone must have had penguin bloggers on the case.