Not Your Grandma's Sweaters

While preening is necessary for swimming and migration purposes, petroleum deposits cause adverse health effects as these penguins preen. Rehabilitation centers are knitting sweaters these little guys.

Penguin "Jumpers"

Evident through lower survival rate, mitigated body mass, eroded hormone production, and many more observed consequences of oil pollution, the Magellanic penguin has fallen victim to environmental retrogression.

Rehabilitation centers watch populations of this penguin and monitor their health and wellness—interceding whenever necessary. Many penguins which encounter petroleum oil are sent to these centers for cleaning (Gallo, 2019). Some centers raise money for “penguin jumpers” (Gallo, 2019).

Prior to cleaning these penguins, they are fitted with a knitted sweater to wear until they reach the facility (Gallo, 2019). These sweaters serve as damage control to prevent them from swallowing the oil on their feathers (Gallo, 2019). Thanks to creative research teams, Magellanic penguin population management may undertake a positive outlook.