Penguins do not all mate for life — some have affairs, and others even get “divorced”, according to a leading expert.

The black-and-white Antarctic waddlers are often thought of as models of lifelong monogamy, but it turns out their love lives are just as complicated — and scandalous — as ours.

Dr. Peter Fretwell, of the British Antarctic Survey, explained that penguins have social structures and characteristics that are “very relatable” to humans.

He said: “There are divorces and if you’re not getting on with your partner after a few years, sometimes they’ll go and choose another.

“The mating one is some mate for life, and some don’t — and that’s very relatable as a human.”

The boffin pointed to gentoo penguins, who gift stones as tokens of love, and adélie penguins, who use the pebb

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