Bizarre News

Gay penguins win the right to adopt

Wednesday, 17th December 2008

Written by Francesca Cookney

The gay penguins who were banished from their zoo colony after stealing eggs from their peers have finally been given the opportunity to raise their own young. Following protests by animal rights groups, zookeepers at Polar Land in China have allowed the couple to take on two eggs from an inexperienced first-time mother – and with outstanding results.

"We decided to give them two eggs from another couple whose hatching ability had been poor and they've turned out to be the best parents in the whole zoo," keepers told the press.

The two male birds, who are reportedly gay, were moved away from the rest of the group last month after they were caught repeatedly trying to exchange stones for eggs. They were disturbing the hatching period and aggravating the rightful parents, explained the zoo, who denied discrimination.

But why on earth would penguins want other people's children? Well, for the same reasons that gay couples the world over have fought for their right to adopt although, one imagines, without the same level of conscious reasoning. "One of the responsibilities of being a male adult is looking after the eggs. Despite the fact that they can't have eggs naturally, it does not take away their biological drive to be a parent," said one resident wildlife expert.

Visitors to the zoo are delighted that the penguins have been given the same rights as their straight friends.