Waddling in a Vest With "Deadly Cuteness"... Penguin Quick to Heal After Wearing It

Copper and Zinc Fiber Vests Help Heal Injured Penguins
Fishing Nets, Plastic Pollution, and El Nino Threaten Survival

A team of Chilean researchers has introduced a special vest containing copper and zinc to help injured Humboldt penguins recover. This is an example of applying vests previously used for treating wounds in pets such as dogs and cats to the protection of endangered species.

A copper and zinc fiber vest that prevents an injured penguin caught in a fishing net from touching its wounds. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

On September 2 (local time), the Associated Press reported that the Buin Zoo, located on the outskirts of Santiago, Chile, measured the shape of the injured penguin and created a custom full-body vest.

When penguins are injured, they often twist their long necks to peck at wounds or remove surgical sutures themselves, which hinders healing. This vest prevents penguins from touching their wounds.

The fibers used in the vest contain copper and zinc. Copper and zinc suppress the growth of bacteria and fungi. Zinc, in particular, promotes the formation of microvessels, aiding the regeneration of damaged skin tissue.

Veterinarians on site stated that the penguins are adapting well to wearing the vest and confirmed that there was noticeable improvement in the wound area after just one day.

Special vest design created to aid the recovery of a penguin injured by getting caught in a fishing net. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

This research was conducted amid a rapid decline in the population of Humboldt penguins due to changes in the marine ecosystem. Recent surveys show that the number of active nests at major breeding grounds in Chile has fallen by 63% compared to three years ago.

Humboldt penguins face multiple threats including exposure to fishing nets and plastic waste, as well as a lack of food caused by fishing activity. In addition, El Nino has raised sea temperatures, making it even harder for them to find their main food source, cold-water fish.

As penguins travel farther in search of food, the amount of time parent penguins spend away from their nests is increasing. There are concerns that this could result in more abandoned or injured chicks.

Experts predict that the number of abandoned or injured penguin chicks in their natural habitat will continue to increase due to the impact of El Nino, and they plan to continue expanding wildlife rehabilitation treatments that utilize copper vests.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.