Same-sex penguin couple Electra and Viola with their baby. Image: Facebook/@oceangraficvl
A pair of female penguins became first-time mothers to a baby penguin in an oceanarium in Spain.
Electra and Viola hatched another couple’s egg and are now taking care of the baby penguin, as per Oceanogràfic València’s Facebook post on Aug. 17.
The wildlife park pointed out that over 450 species in zoos and in nature have same-sex couples. It is, however, the aquarium’s first time to have such a couple, which made the occurrence extra special.
According to the oceanarium’s website, Electra and Viola are Gentoo penguins. This breeding season, only three baby chicks have been born, and Electra and Viola made up the third couple to raise the younglings.
Much like a female and male penguin couple, the aquarium observed that the two female penguins had the same actions prior to reproduction, such as building their own nest out of stones.
After observing the phenomenon, the couple’s keepers gave Electra and Viola a fertile egg and they were able to carry out its entire breeding process.
The parents usually take turns in incubating the egg on their nest every day. The egg normally hatches after 38 days, according to the wildlife park.
The park also considers Electra and Viola an “exceptional pair,” as per CBS News last Monday, Aug. 24.
In 2018, two male penguins in Australia welcomed their own baby as well. Much like Electra and Viola, Sphen and Magic started collecting pebbles to form a nest during the breeding season, the report stated.
The staff members of Sea Life Sydney Aquarium then gave the couple a chance to nurture their own egg after they showed their dedication to take care of a dummy egg. Sphen and Magic took turns incubating the egg daily until it finally hatched. Cha Lino/JB
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