Waddle This Way: Gay Penguin Dads Hatch Adorable Chick at Chester Zoo

London, UK – 5 July 2025 – Love is love – and that includes penguins! Scampi and Flounder, a devoted male Humboldt penguin pair at Chester Zoo, have proudly become dads after successfully hatching and raising a chick this breeding season.

The egg, originally laid by another pair, was placed in their care by zookeepers to give it the best shot at survival—and the results have been heart-melting. The penguin dads have taken turns keeping the egg warm, feeding their chick, and fending off nosy neighbors in their colony of 45.

Same-sex penguin couples stepping up as superstar parents isn’t new. Famous duos like Roy and Silo in New York, and Sphen and Magic in Sydney, have shown that when it comes to love and parenting, penguins don’t care about labels – they just want to raise happy, healthy chicks.

With Humboldt penguins classified as vulnerable in the wild, conservationists say every successful hatch counts. And this time, it’s thanks to two dads who are proving that family is what you make it.

The zoo is letting fans help name the baby penguin online, with recent name picks in the colony including Orion, Cassiopeia, and Quasar. Whatever this little chick ends up being called, one thing’s certain – it’s got two proud parents waddling tall.