The Penguin Foundation on Phillip Island, Australia, has a unique way of rehabilitating birds that have been affected by oil spills from fishing boats.
These penguins are fitted with knitted jumpers, preventing them from cleaning their feathers and ingesting the toxins on their bodies. The jumpers also keep the birds warm, since the oil in their feathers does not insulate them from the cold.
The foundation cleans the toxins off the penguins before releasing them back into the wild, and they are looking for more volunteers to help them knit jumpers.
Knits for Nature, a program created by the foundation, has designed over 300 jumpers for these birds. Lyn Blom, who works at the organization, expressed a need for more designs.
“There’s a lot of hidden creativity out there,” she stated, and said that making one was quick because they are small in size.
The organization saves about 20 penguins a year, and also uses the jumpers for educational programs and fundraising.
To make a jumper, volunteers can download the pattern here.
What do you think—isn’t this a fun and creative way to help penguins in need?
[via ABC News, Metro.co.uk, and Buzzfeed]