Madrid — Gay penguins Inca and Rayas of the Madrid Zoo now have a new project to keep them busy: they've been given a donated egg.

For years, zookeepers tell British newspapers, the penguins have been building a nest, only to be baffled as to why nothing appears to fill it.

"We wanted them to have something to stay together for – so we got an egg. Otherwise they might have become depressed," said zookeeper Yolanda Martin.

Inca is now taking care of sitting on the egg and keeping it warm, while Rayas brings him food and chases off intruders.

The egg is expected to hatch in June.

Here is a Spanish-language video about the pair: