The number of gay penguins at the Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium in Kerry has quadrupled since Ireland legalized same-sex marriage.
The aquarium has confirmed that out of the 14 Gentoo penguins there, eight are cohabiting with another penguin of the same sex.
It’s not unusual for penguins to be attracted to those of the same sex, but the fact that more than half of the penguins in Dingle are in a same-sex relationship is considered rare, reports the Irish Mirror.
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Louise Overy, Ocean Worlds animal manager, 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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Publiée par Oceanworld Aquarium Dingle sur Lundi 17 septembre 2018
"The lesbian ones will take action if they feel broody they will waddle over to a male do what needs to be done and rear the chick with their female partner.
"They have maternal instincts the same as humans do,” said Overy, according to the Irish Examiner.
"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.
Credit: Getty Images
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“They woo each other with stones which the other partner uses to build their 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."
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