Stan and Olli are penguin partners for life (Picture: Yay Photography/flickr)

Male king penguins Stan and Olli have finally been allowed to settle down together after zoo keepers realised they only had eyes for each other.

Up until recently, the penguins had been living at Berlin Zoo, where they were part of a European Conservation Programme (EEP) breeding programme, which hopes to bring more baby king penguins into the world and safeguard the future of the species.

But, their handlers’ attempts to get them to take an interest in the female penguins failed miserably.

As time passed, the zoo workers realised Stan and Olli just wanted to be together.


(Picture: Yay Photography/flickr)

‘They’re gay, as far as we know,’ Berlin Zoo spokeswoman Christiane Reiss told The Local. ‘They never bred. And when it came to courtship, they only mated with one another.’



So, they’ve been moved to Hamburg Zoo, where they’re no longer expected to breed and can live together in peace.

Can animals be homosexual? According to Darwin’s theory, the sexual impulses of animals are designed solely for reproduction, and must therefore be heterosexual. However, recent research suggests homosexuality among animals is actually not uncommon. About a fifth of captive king penguins are believed by researchers to be gay. Zoologist Petter Bockman, an expert on the subject at the University of Oslo, told MailOnline: ‘If you ask: “Can animals be gay?” The short answer is: “Yes.” “Gay” is a human word, however, so we prefer to use the word “homosexual” for animals. ‘Sexuality is not just about making babies, it is also about making the flock work. For some animals, homosexuality is normal flock behaviour.’ With tribal animals, homosexuality can take on a social role – occupying unwanted males or bonding male members of the pack. In other species, it’s less clear. ‘Birds are really complicated,’ says Bockman. ‘What goes on in birds’ brains is anyone’s guess.’

Their new zoo is much more accepting of same sex penguin couples.

In fact, Ollie and Stan will only be in the company of male penguins – including another homosexual couple, Juan and Carlos.

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