Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Chick Splits Up Gay SF Penguins

By Mary Papenfuss, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 13, 2009 2:10 AM CDT

(Newser) – A male penguin couple that raised a hatchling at the San Francisco Zoo has been split up by the attentions of the amorous widow Linda, UPI reports. Magellanic penguin Harry was apparently smitten by the lovesick female, and he deserted Pepper, his partner of six years. Linda has "her plan," said the zoo's director. "I don't think she was wanting to be a single girl for too long." There's still hope the boys could get back together. Late-summer molting sometimes reshuffles couples.

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

What's new, pussycat? (San Francisco Zoo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

It'll be interesting to see if Harry spends any of that time with Pepper. We'll have to wait and see. - San Francisco Zoo keeper Anthony Brown on the former couple

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

SF Tiger Attack Survivors Made Silence Pact

Brothers vowed in ambulance not to talk to police, report says

(NEWSER) - In the ambulance to the hospital just after a tiger mauled 17-year-old Carlos Sousa Jr. to death, paramedics heard Sousa's two friends make a pact of silence about "what we did," the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The two brothers, accused by one witness of taunting the tiger before the attack, have since refused to let police search their car, cell phone records, and photos. More»

Fighters Intercept Pot Plane in Obama Airspace

Cessna strays too close as Obama heads to LAX

(NEWSER) - What were they smoking? A four-seater Cessna plane hauling marijuana yesterday strayed into restricted airspace designed to protect President Obama, who was flying on Marine One; the small plane was intercepted by fighter jets. The incident occurred as the president was traveling in the helicopter from Orange County to Los Angeles International Airport, reports the Los Angeles Times . Authorities attempted repeatedly to contact the Cessna 182. When the pilot failed to respond, two F-16s forced the aircraft to land nearby at Long Beach Airport, where it was met by law enforcement. More»

Kidnapped Monkey Back in SF Zoo

Returned by man who said he coaxed victim into his backpack

(NEWSER) - A monkey simian-napped from the San Francisco Zoo was returned by a man who said he coaxed the animal from the bushes at a nearby park into his backpack. The 17-year-old spider monkey, Banana Sam, was "hungry, trembling and thirsty," but healthy, said a zoo worker. He was missing close to 40 hours. The kidnappers had climbed onto a roof to cut through netting to grab the monkey, despite guards and security cameras at the zoo. More»

UC Students Storm BofA, 100 Busted

Protesters hit the street to rip rich regents

(NEWSER) - University of California students stormed a Bank of America branch in downtown San Francisco yesterday, pitched a tent and chanted, "Shame, shame, shame" before 100 of them were arrested and hauled out by city cops. The bank invasion was part of an afternoon of protest by students demonstrating against the UC regents, calling them rich tuition boosters who don't care about education. One of the regents is on the board of the Bank of America. Demonstrators had planned to target a meeting of the regents in the city, but officials canceled it, fearing violence. Those arrested will be charged with trespassing, notes the San Francisco Chronicle . More»

California Flier Stranded in Airport 8 Days

Cash-strapped woman marooned by baggage fees

(NEWSER) - All she wanted was to get out of town to start fresh. But California would-be flier Terri Weissinger ended up stuck in San Francisco International Airport for eight days, marooned by unexpected baggage fees. Cash-strapped Weissinger was down to three bags, a ticket and $30 when she arrived at the airport, on her way to Idaho and a new life. Because it's been years since she last flew, Weissinger had no idea she would have to pay $60 in baggage fees. She couldn't ditch one of the bags because that's against security rules. Then she missed her plane, and faced a change fee of $150 and new ticket prices as high as $1,000. Because she had no home to return to, she spent days wandering the airport. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website