More than half the penguins at an Irish aquarium have p-p-p-picked up a gay p-p-p-partner, it has been revealed.
The Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium in Kerry has confirmed that of the 14 Gentoo penguins they have eight are in same-sex relationships.
It has been known to happen before but since same-sex marriage became legal for humans here the penguin numbers are on the increase too.
In fact, they have quadrupled.
Ocean World’s animal manager Louise Overy said: “We have two homosexual pairs and two lesbian ones. You cannot tell a male penguin from a female by their sexual organs so the only way we know is when we see them mating and not producing chicks.
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“The lesbian ones will take action if they feel broody. They will waddle over to a male to do what needs to be done and rear the chick with their female partner.
“They have maternal instincts the same as humans do.”
While it’s not unusual for penguins to be attracted to those of the same sex the fact that more than half of those in Dingle are is rare.
Louise added: “In New York City zoo a gay penguin couple reared a chick and that made international headlines because they were seen as the only gay penguin couple in the world – and yet we have four couples here in our place.
“They woo each other with stones which the other partner uses to build a nest. It’s far cheaper than diamond rings and flowers!
“We have had a gay couple here before. Five years ago Penelope and Misty got plenty of coverage but we never expected it to catch on.”
Homosexual behaviour is common throughout the animal kingdom and has even been observed in insects.
