Berlin, August 16: A pair of gay penguins in Germany who tried earnestly to hatch a stone now have the chance to become real parents. Staff at Berlin Zoo recently presented the amorous male couple with an egg, which they swiftly began to incubate. The egg came from another pair who in recent years "have not got along 100 percent and who have therefore often damaged their eggs", said zookeepers Norbert Zahmel. Gay Penguin Couple Adopt Abandoned Egg in Berlin Zoo After Caring for it Since July.

Ten-year-old Royal penguins Skipper and Ping were an "excellent" choice as adoptive parents, he added. Zookeepers don't know for certain if the egg is fertilised, but if it does hatch it would be the first birth of a penguin at the zoo in more than 20 years. Same-sex love among penguins is nothing new, with homosexual behaviour among the species reported in zoos and in the wild. Gay Penguin Couple Sphengic From Sydney Welcome Their Baby, View Cute Pic of The Newly-Born Penguin Chick.

During gay Pride week, London Zoo mounted a banner above its penguin beach, declaring: "Some penguins are gay. Get over it," in a nod to a human campaign against homophobia.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 16, 2019 09:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).