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Gay Penguins At Toronto Zoo are Being Split Up
Pedro, 10, and Buddy, 20, have formed a close bond since their arrival at Toronto Zoo in May as part of a breeding program, the National Post reported.
"The two girls have been following them, we just have to get the boys interested in looking at them," Tom Mason, curator of birds and invertebrates at the zoo, said.
Mason said that if the penguins were not an endangered species the zoo would be happy to "let them do their thing".
Pedro and Buddy's separation will only last as long as they can inseminate their respective female partners -- while incubating eggs, the two may well be back "side by side."
Once breeding season is up, Pedro and Buddy will "probably" ditch their female partners and reunite, according to Bill Rapley, executive director for conservation, education and wildlife at the zoo.
UPDATE -
Polled as to whether the zoo was doing the right thing, nearly 34,000 TODAY.com readers responded – and an overwhelming majority of 83.4 percent said that the birds of a feather should stay together. “They are happy and healthy, leave them alone,” MemoryintheMachine commented. “They chose, we need to respect that!” jag24659 agreed.
Well, everyone can rest easy: The Toronto Zoo says the penguin pals will be reunited by spring 2012. “There will be a limited time of separation, but it will not be permanent,” Tom Mason, the zoo's curator of invertebrates and birds, told PinkNews.co.uk. “If Pedro and Buddy wish to get back together, they will be welcome to do so.”
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