The female gentoo couple, Marama and Rocky, have been together for five years

After proving they would be good parents they have now been given a chick

The baby came from another penguin who was struggling with two chicks

A gender and the animal's name have not yet been announced for the tiny animal

A chick adopted by a pair of lesbian penguins will be raised gender-neutral by its keepers.

The infant will be raised neither male nor female at London's Sea Life centre, where the family are kept.

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It's the first time the aquarium has had a non-binary animal, which comes four months after same-sex gentoo parents, Rocky and Marama, acquired the offspring.

If eventually the penguin gets named, it will be given a gender-neutral name such as Kelly, Alex or Charlie, according to staff at Sea Life London.

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The unnamed chick (pictured) will be raised gender-neutral by keepers at the London Sea Life centre

Adoptive parents Marama and Rocky (pictured) with the fostered chick which is seen just underneath the bird with the green band, Rocky on the nest underneath. You can see its fluffy behind poking out

HALF OF PENGUINS IN IRISH AQUARIUM ARE GAY Eight of the 14 penguins at Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium are in same-sex pairs. Keepers say the number of gay or lesbian couples has rocketed in recent years. Pairs of same-sex penguins have been known to raise adopted chicks together. Pairs of female penguins have even been known to raise a chick together after producing one with a temporary male partner, the Irish Mirror reported. Manager Louise Overy told the newspaper: 'We have two homosexual pairs and two lesbian ones. 'You cannot tell a male penguin from a female by their sexual organs so the only way we know is when we see them mating and not producing chicks.' The four gay couples now at the aquarium mark an increase from just one - called Penelope and Misty - five years ago, she said.

The penguin couple - who have been together for five years - adopted the unnamed chick after they demonstrated they were ready to become parents.

Marama and Rocky are first-time parents but they have shown great parenting qualities over the past two years by building the best nests in the colony.

They also have a very strong bond - bowing to each other regularly - allowing them to take it in turns to look after the nest.

Marama is the older of the pair and naturally more protective of the chick, while Rocky - who is free-spirited and inquisitive - is keen to teach the new arrival everything it needs to know about life as a penguin.

Graham McGrath, the site's general manager, said: 'While the decision may ruffle a few feathers, gender neutrality in humans has only recently become a widespread topic of conversation.

'However, it is completely natural for penguins to develop genderless identities as they grow into mature adults. '

Last month, gay dad King Penguins called Skip and Ping adopted an egg at Berlin Zoo, Germany.

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Proud parents Rocky, (front, green band) with two other birds from the colony at London Sea Life. Max (left, red band) is a bird from the colony while Fry (right;rainbow band) is the biological father of the little birds in the keeper's arms. One of these is to be adopted by the sames-ex couple

Two baby Gentoo penguin chicks (pictured in the arms of a keeper) were born at the London Sea Life as part of their conservation programme and one chick has been adopted by same sex female penguins after the egg was removed from its birth mother

The small bird is currently of unknown name and gender (pictured) but is believed to be in good hands with the adopted parents. They proved to keepers that they would be capable by building the best nests in the colony

Earlier this year, penguins at ZSL London Zoo were photographed with an LGBTQ+ Pride banner to celebrate the annual parade.

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The sign declaring 'some penguins are gay, get over it' was erected in the Penguin Beach enclosure to mark Pride.

The enclosure - which recreates a South American beach landscape - is home to several same-sex couples, including Humboldt penguins Ronnie and Reggie.

The birds struck up a relationship in 2014 and have since raised a chick together. Zookeepers said they remain as 'strong as ever' today.

Marama and Rocky have a very strong bond - bowing to each other regularly - allowing them to take it in turns to look after the nest. Here, Rocky nursing the chick alongside a rainbow pebble

The fluffy light grey ball at the front of the bird here is the baby chick being looked after by new mother, Rocky

In September penguins at ZSL London Zoo were photographed with an LGBTQ+ Pride banner to celebrate the annual parade. The enclosure - which recreates a South American beach landscape - is home to several same-sex couples, including Humboldt penguins Ronnie and Reggie