Toronto zoo to separate a pair of gay penguins

If asked to choose between love and survival, most of us would like to go for the dramatic answer — love. Well sadly for two homosexual penguins at the Toronto Zoo, the answer can’t be love. The pair of African penguins with the names Petro and Buddy, have been reportedly getting too cozy with each other and the Zoo has decided to step in. The National post had reported that the pair,

“were brought to the Toronto Zoo this year from Pittsburgh’s National Aviary to “pair-bond” with a couple of eligible females. Instead, the pair bonded with each other. Zookeepers now report seeing the pair snuggling, calling to each other and displaying courtship behaviour.”

The Zoo has now announced that the pair will be separated and put in enclosures with female penguins. The Zoo authorities hope that the penguins will mate with the females which could be a big if since penguins mate for life. The penguin population for the African species is less than a million and extinction is a serious threat for the endangered birds. [caption id=“attachment_127145” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“African penguins Pedro (R) and Buddy interact with each other at the Toronto Zoo in Toronto November 8, 2011. Reuters.”]  [/caption] Currently it is mating season for the species and if Pedro and Buddy don’t mate, it could worsen things for the already declining penguin population. However the story of the penguins being separated has also found an outpouring of sympathy. For more about penguins and their odd behaviour, read the National post’s full report. A video story on the penguins can be found here at ABCnews.