Gay penguin pair adopt abandoned chick

German zoo gave Z and Vielpunkt, a pair of gay Humboldt penguins, an abandoned egg to care for.
Read more: ANIMAL RESEARCH

Photo credit: bild.de
The egg was vulnerable and helpless, abandoned by its parents and in need of warmth to survive. So officials at a German zoo gave it to a pair of gay male Humboldt penguins, named Z and Vielpunkt, who took it in and nestled it until it hatched in May. Now, the pair is happily raising the four-week-old chick.
 
"Z and Vielpunkt, both males, gladly accepted their 'Easter gift' and got straight down to raising it," said a zoo statement.
 
"Since the chick arrived, they have been behaving just as you would expect a heterosexual couple to do. The two happy fathers spend their days attentively protecting, caring for and feeding their adopted offspring."
 
Z and Vielpunkt aren’t the first of their kind, or even the only gay penguins at the zoo in Bremerhaven, northern Germany. In 2005, three pairs of male penguins had been seen at the zoo trying to mate and sitting on stones in lieu of eggs. It was also reported last fall that a pair of male penguins at a zoo in China was stealing eggs from heterosexual penguin couples.
 
Other famous gay penguin couples include Roy and Silo, the Central Park Zoo pair that inspired the book And Tango Makes Three.
 
Homosexuality has been documented in a range of animal species, but has not been studied in-depth.
 
"Homosexuality is nothing unusual among animals," Bremerhaven zoo said on Wednesday.
 
"Sex and coupling up in our world do not necessarily have anything to do with reproduction."
 


Comments(12)

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coolseo007@gmail.com

That's what motivated me to join, because we need to bridge the gap and have an open dialogue, and I'm just saying things like this aren't going to help that. Once again, interesting article, not being a hater, just throwing in my 2 cents into the discussion. Cheers.
Law degree | Finance degree | .... More



GAY ANIMAL REAEARCH A WASTED EFFORT?

Those of us who have no problem with accepting that homosexuality is normal for those who find themselves attracted to their own gender, don't need additional "proof from the animal kingdom at large. Those who will never accept human homosexuality as it is, will not be swayed by such proof.



homophobia

They exhibit as 'gay,' build nests, try to mate and seem to be partners, same sex penguin partners have been noted at other Zoo's. My beef is that people can't accept a positive outcome (and an area possibly for research) without acting like children and resorting to name calling. Hardly a day goes by when I can't read an article or look at a youtube video without some hater, probably some weedy redneck making a homophobic comment..........



Well....

Maybe it's just my scientific background but this sort of thing makes professionals roll their eyes is all. I've read reports of male Wood Duck companions but I just doubt the BBC is all. I have no problem with the issue, it's America and everyone gets their shot to be themselves but I seriously doubt how "gay" animals are and it just seems like poor science and propaganda. The article is very well-written though, I'm not trying to be a hater, honest. I'm just saying that it's hard.... More



Why?

why won't this sort of thing get mnn to be taken seriously. Surely this increases the chances of Penguins reproducing in captivity which is good for 'mother nature'?
Secondly the assumption from another poster that all gays have butt sex is ignorant and also shows how little you know about penguins reproductive organs.



Meh..

This sort of thing isn't going to get MNN represented seriously.



Seriously!

Homophobia should go back to the 1950's and die. Both of my parents are gay penguins and they did a fantastic job raising me and my adopted sister.



threatened

why do people feel so threatened so much to write anti-gay comments (irony excepted) about a couple of sweet penguins. Is this site just for children or do adults post on here as well?



Awwwww

That's so nice of these little penguins to be so caring and loving despite the fact they are going to burn in hell for all of eternity with the rest of the gay animal kingdom. :o(



Jesus is rolling over...

God hates these queer penguins.



If your God hates queer penquins

Then you need a different God.



so cute

Wow ... this is so neat. Thanks for sharing.

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