Roy and Silo are probably two of the happiest animals in New York City’s Central Park, but they are also part of one of the largest controversies. These two birds are “gay penguins”—two male birds that have been together for nearly six years and have even tried to hatch a rock together. Last year word of the penguins trickled out to the community and protests ensued. Religious and “family values” groups felt that the birds set a bad example and that their behavior shouldn’t be condoned by the zoo. In efforts to stem off enraged zoo-boycotters, both birds were separated. However, both birds reacted negatively to the separation, becoming angry and upset with the other penguins. Debate now rages—should the zoo concede to the protestors and keep the birds separated, or should it allow Roy and Silo to remain together? We will first address arguments for reuniting the birds, and then address arguments for their continued separation.
KEEP THOSE LOVEBIRDS TOGETHER!
The first factor in such a decision is to depict wild animals honestly. Because these birds have chosen to mate for life with one another, the zoo should acquiesce to that decision, providing an honest depiction of the natural lives of these creatures to the visitors who frequent the zoo. The zoo can also study the interactions of homosexual animals to gain a greater understanding over an issue that remains controversial in today’s America.
The zoo also has an obligation to focus upon the messages being sent by such a separation, as zoos are largely thought to be non-political organizations. No one really heads to the zoo with any sort of political agenda, but by breaking up these penguins, the zoo is sending a political statement that de-legitimates the gay community in a very active way.
Finally, there is an obligation that the zoo has to the penguins, having removed them from their natural habitat and essentially promising to treat them well. Allowing the birds to remain together allows them to dwell in their most natural environment, while simultaneously providing a unique benefit of better and more accurate research about penguin habits. We need nothing more than our eyes to see that birds of any feather – who cuddle, play and prefer each other to all others – deserve to stay together and be happy in their love nest.
TEAR THEM APART!
The initial thought that comes to mind when factoring such a decision should be the future of the zoo as a whole. The rest of the animals will surely suffer if a major source of funding dries up, as could certainly be expected in a controversy of this size. Zoos are expensive public entities, and any reasonable utilitarian calculus will surely demand separation, at least for the time being. Like any nonprofit organization, zoos are critically reliant on funding for their basic operation, and it would be foolhardy indeed to sacrifice the livelihood of an entire intuition for the (possible) well being of two of its members.
A second reason to separate the penguins is the possibility of procreation. The penguins, being endangered, are both expensive to obtain and in danger of being wiped our completely. The zoo owes its patrons, and, indeed, the broader penguin community, the preservation of the species – especially because it is the fault of humanity that the penguins are extinct to begin with. It would be a grave moral error if this blame were ignored, rather than rectified. It’s important to remember that, despite the emotionally charged nature of the debate, birds are far from having the emotional capabilities of humans, and we should consider them in a very different light. In a world where we spay and neuter animals every day, we shouldn’t we squeamish about acting out a little deux ex machina on the penguin sex.
However, the strongest reason to separate the animals is, counter-intuitively, in the name of gay rights. The controversy surrounding the penguins only further fuels the gay rights debate – and actually comes out strong on the side of the activists. If Roy and Silo continue to refuse female companionship, then it is strong evidence that penguin bonding transcends heterosexual relationships – that there is strong evolutionary proof that the rights of homosexuals should be protected. Keeping them together will convince no one but the already convinced, and help maintain an intolerable situation for gay rights around the world.
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