Sphen, Half of a Beloved Same-Sex 'Penguin Power Couple,' Dies at Sydney Aquarium

The 12-year-old gentoo penguin died in early August, leaving behind his partner Magic, according to the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

The SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is mourning the death of one of its most well-known residents.

On Aug. 22, the Australian aquarium announced the death of Sphen, the gentoo penguin. The 12-year-old bird is known by many as one half of SEA LIFE's same-sex "penguin power couple."

According to SEA LIFE, Sphen and his partner, Magic, ascended to fame in 2018, when news of the birds' courtship made international news. The penguin couple spent six years together before Sphen's death and adopted and raised two chicks during that period.

The couple's successful relationship helped the aquarium spread messages about equality, conservation, plastic pollution, and more. Sphen and Magic also inspired a Mardi Gras float, appeared together in documentaries and books, and became part of the education syllabus in Australia's state of New South Wales.

Related: Same-Sex Flamingo Couple Successfully Hatches One of a U.K. Zoo's First Chicks Since 2018

"Sphen and Magic shared a bond unlike most other penguin couples – they could even be found together outside of the breeding season, which is unique for gentoo penguins," SEA LIFE shared in its release regarding Sphen's death.

The aquarium also posted about Sphen on Facebook, sharing a video "celebrating the life of Sphen" that includes clips of the penguin spending time with Magic and the couple's chicks.

SEA LIFE also addressed how Magic is handling the loss of his partner by responding to a commenter on the Facebook post who asked: "What about Magic? How is he coping with loss??"

In its response, the aquarium said that keepers allowed Magic time to observe Sphen's body so the surviving penguin could "say goodbye."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"We believe we gave him the best opportunity to move on. It is currently the beginning of the breeding season, and we are seeing all the behaviours we would expect from Magic, which is nest building, feeding, and participating in training," SEA LIFE added in its Facebook comment.

The aquarium closed its social media post with a sweet tribute to Sphen.

"Sphen's legacy will live on through the love he shared with Magic and the important conservation messages they helped us spread," SEA LIFE wrote.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.