‘Some penguins are gay, get over it!’ London Zoo celebrates same-sex couple Ronnie and Reggie with a Pride banner in the birds’ enclosure
- London Zoo has put up sign reading ‘Some penguins are gay, get over it’
- Quote is a reference to Stonewall’s Get Over It campaign and ties in with Pride
- Enclosure is home to the Zoo’s gay Humboldt penguins Ronnie and Reggie
London Zoo has installed a banner celebrating its same-sex penguin couples.
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.
London Zoo installed a banner celebrating its same-sex penguin couples. The sign, pictured, declaring ‘some penguins are gay, get over it’ was erected in the Penguin Beach enclosure
Several pictures of the adorable Humboldt penguins at the zoo show them posing by the sign
The sign – which is about as tall as a penguin and stands facing visitors – supports the Get Over It campaign spearheaded by the LGBTQ charity, Stonewall.
The striking red, black and white banner was praised by Twitter users after a snap was shared online by the official ZSL London Zoo account.
One called it ‘the best thing’ while another said it was ‘amazing’.
Announcing the move, the zoo tweeted: ‘Next week’s ZSLZooNights will be getting a #Pride makeover and our #penguins are joining in on the celebrations!’
Penguin Beach is a breeding facility for colonies of Humboldt penguins with a special penguin nursery, including a chick incubation unit and a pool where the youngsters can learn how to swim.
Next week London Zoo will have several pride themed events where visitors can learn how common same sex pairings are in the animal kingdom
It is home to 93 penguins, including Ronnie and Reggie.
The couple got together in 2014 and made headlines a year later when they ‘adopted’ an egg that had been abandoned.
The couple shared parenting duties of their chick, Kyton, until he fledged the nest.
The Zoo said they’re still as strong as ever and are often found snuggled up in their nest box together.
Dozens of people commented on the Zoo’s social media posts saying they loved the pride sign
Fellow male couple Dev and Martin, and female couple Nadja and Zimmer, also call the zoo home.
Also living on Penguin Beach is one-year-old chick Rainbow who hatched during Pride celebrations last year and will celebrate her first birthday this weekend.
London Zoo has a selection of Pride-themed activities planned for next week, including a makeover for Zoo Nights, which coincide with the city’s Pride Parade over the weekend of July 5.
Visitors will be able to learn about gender and mating in the animal kingdom at a Pride-themed talk.
Zookeepers will reveal just how common same-sex pairings are – from penguins and pandas to goats and giraffes.
One man said his ‘day had been made’ after seeing the Stonewall inspired sign in the penguin enclosure at London Zoo