26. 11. 08. - 09:00

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26. 11. 08. - 09:00

Gay penguins get the cold shoulder

Gay penguins have been given the cold shoulder at a zoo in China after trying to steal eggs to become surrogate dads.

Keepers have segregated the couple after they caught them trying to trick straight birds into parting with their offspring by placing round stones at their feet and then running off with an egg.

Experts at the Polarland Park in Harbin, north east China, say that despite being gay the three year old male birds are still driven by an urge to be dads.

"One of the responsibilities of being a male adult is looking after the eggs. Despite this being a biological impossibility for this couple, the natural desire is still there," explained a keeper.

"It's not discrimination. We have to fence them separately, otherwise the whole group will be disturbed during hatching time," they added.

Austrian Times

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