Gay Penguins Moved to Male-Exclusive Sanctuary

Two male king penguins, Stan and Olli didn't quite reach the expectations of zookeepers in Berlin. Both penguins were placed under the European Conservation Program (EEP) to reproduce with a female in order to ensure a strong future for the existence of the species. It turns out the penguins weren't interested in the females, but rather, each other.

"They're gay, as far as we know," said Berlin Zoo spokeswoman Christiane Reiss. "They never bred. And when it came to courtship, they only mated with one another."

According to The Local, both penguins have been transferred to a zoo in Hamburg where they will be a part of an exclusive male community that's also home to another gay penguin couple, Juan and Carlos.

Stan and Olli aren't the only two gay penguins to receive recognition in Germany. In 2009 two male penguins in Humboldt known as Z and Vielpunkt successfully hatched an egg together after a hetero couple kicked a second egg out of the nest.

In a country where same-sex marriage is not legal and gay couples have limited adoption rights, it's nice to see penguins at the forefront of LGBT rights in Germany.