WORLD> Global General
Gay penguin leaves partner
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-07-20 08:46

After six years together, the relationship between a pair of gay male penguins at San Francisco zoo is apparently over, with Harry leaving Pepper for another penguin - Linda.

Gay penguin leaves partner

Gay penguin Pepper (left) watches his ex Harry (centre) and his new girlfriend Linda (right) at San Francisco zoo in this undated picture. [CFP]

Related readings:
Gay penguin leaves partner Gay penguins hatch rejected egg
Gay penguin leaves partner Gay penguins steal eggs from straight couples

The Los Angeles Times reported on Friday that the relationship between Harry and Pepper, who lived side-by-side, protecting eggs abandoned by other penguins, came to a shocking end when Harry moved into a neighboring nest with recently-widowed Linda.

The development has sparked a variety of reactions in the blogosphere, where Linda has been called a "home wrecker".

Harrison Edell, a curator of birds at the zoo, had a more pragmatic explanation, noting that Linda's recently-deceased partner was a leader of sorts among the small zoo penguin community, commanding not one but two nests. "For penguins, real estate means a lot," Edell told the Los Angeles Times, so "as far as penguins go, she was a pretty attractive prospect".