Former Toledo Zoo residents Buddy and Pedro have been given the green light to resume their relationship next spring, after doing what’s necessary for the survival of their species.  The pair of African penguins have shown what zoolgists, hesitant to assign sexual orientation to animals, call pair bonding behavior since living here in Toledo.

They have gained international attention since relocating to the Toronto Zoo, where it was recently announced that the pair would be split for breeding purposes.  There are only an estimated 250,000 African penguins in existence.  The Daily Beast reports, however that the zoo’s bird curator recently said that if Buddy and Pedro want to get back together after breeding season, “they will be welcome to do so.”