There is now a gender neutral penguin living at London's Aquarium

'It is completely natural for penguins to develop genderless identities as they grow into mature adults'

London Aquarium has its first-ever gender neutral penguin.

The genderless penguin, which has yet to be named, will be the first penguin to not have an assigned gender at the SEA LIFE London Aquarium.

While gender neutrality is normal amongst penguins, newborn penguins at the famous UK aquarium have traditionally been given gender-based names.

But on this occasion, expert Aquarists decided it would be more natural for the chick to grow and develop into an adult without an assigned gender.

The Gentoo penguin chick is currently four months old and will be identified for health and welfare purposes via a purple band that it has been tagged with.

The animal will be raised by two female penguins, Marama and Rocky, who adopted it earlier this year.

Graham McGrath, general manager at SEA LIFE London, said: “While the decision may ruffle a few feathers, gender neutrality in humans has only recently become a widespread topic of conversation, however, it is completely natural for penguins to develop genderless identities as they grow into mature adults.

(SEA LIFE London Aquarium (SEA LIFE London Aquarium)

“What makes us really proud at the aquarium is the success of SEA LIFE London’s Gentoo breeding programme and the amazing job of same sex penguins Rocky and Marama who took the chick under their wing and raised it as their own.”