Custom wetsuit protects patchy penguin

SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- Sounds like a joke, but it's quite serious for biologists at the California Academy of Sciences, who had a wetsuit created for an African penguin to help him get back in the swim of things.


Pierre, a venerable 25 years old, was going bald, which left him with an embarrassingly exposed, pale pink behind.

Schaller first tried a heat lamp to keep Pierre warm. Then she got another idea: If wetsuits help humans frolic in the chilly Pacific, why not whip up one in a slightly smaller size?

One concern was that the other penguins would reject Pierre in his new duds, but, they accepted his sleek new look.

Pierre was outfitted with the suit about six weeks ago. Since then, he has gained weight and grown back feathers on his hind parts and is again acting like his feisty, alpha-male self.

On a recent visit, Pierre waddled around the tank, taking brief dips and standing on a rock next to his mate. He blended in well, although he was the only penguin with a black tummy.

Schaller can't say whether the wetsuit allowed Pierre to recover his fine feathers, but ""certainly we were able to keep him comfortable during a period of time that would have been very difficult for him to stay comfortable.""

With his plumage restored, Pierre is being weaned off the suit, taking more and more dips in the buff.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=167505

This is lovely Vicky.
Thank you for posting.

It is nice to see an older animal being able to enjoy life.

Love,
Sue

Thank you Vicky.


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89951043

After six weeks in his new clothes, Pierre's feathers began to re-grow, and he now has a new lease on life.

By penguin standards, Pierre is an elder statesman: In the wild, penguins live about 15 years; in captivity, they live to about 20. Pierre turned 25 in February.

"He is behaving as though he is, once again, the patriarch of the colony," Schaller says.

"Now he's standing tall and strong."

Cool!

Thank you for this lovely post.

I am happy to know that the penguin is growing back its feathers. This was really a wonderful invention to keep the old penguin comfortable and able to enjoy its life.



Love,
yoko

Thank you for sharing this information Vicky.

It is nice that Pierre can enjoy his senior years in comfort. It is also wonderful that his feathers are growing back.

Sincerely,
Gisele

Thank you everyone.

Pierre is doing really well.

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/how-pie...in-815868.html?r=RSS

As his health has improved, he has also started taking dips with the suit off. Dr Schaller said it was hard to say if the suit contributed to his improved condition. But she added: "Certainly we were able to keep him comfortable during a period of time that would have been very difficult for him to stay comfortable."

Way to go!

May Pierre keep having fun!

Love,
Sylvie