Two gay penguins to become parents in Berlin Zoo after given an egg to adopt
Skipper and Ping started showing signs that they wanted to become fathers
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Two gay emperor penguins at Berlin Zoo to become parents after staff gave them an egg to adopt last month.
Skipper and Ping were transferred from Hamburg’s zoo back in April and they both started showing signs that they wanted to become fathers after trying to hatch fish and stones.
After watching the couple, zoo staff decided to give them a real egg from the only female in the group – who had tried and failed to hatch eggs for several years, Reuters reported.
Although staff aren’t sure whether the egg has been fertilised, both Skipper and Ping are working tirelessly taking turns to warm the egg.
Zoo spokesman Maximillian Jaeger said: “The two male penguins are acting like exemplary parents, taking turns to warm the egg.
“We’re not sure if the egg has been fertilised.”
If fertilised, the egg should take around 55 days to hatch.