Pierre The Penguin Has A New Life Thanks To His Wetsuit

By Dee Chisamera
08:43, April 26th 2008
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Pierre The Penguin Has A New Life Thanks To His Wetsuit

What can be cuter than a penguin? A penguin in a suit! Pierre is a 25-year-old penguin and probably the world’s most chic delegate in the animal kingdom, after he received his very own wetsuit.

The biologists at the California Academy of Sciences came up with the idea as a solution to Pierre’s problem: after going bald, the venerable penguin refused to enter the water with the other penguins, which was a clear sign that something needed to be done.

Although perfectly adapted to an aquatic life, penguins rely on their plumage, which helps them withstand the low temperatures in the cold waters naturally found in their environment.

Pierre is actually a Jackass penguin (the name comes from the sounds they make, similar to those of donkeys) who desperately needed a solution to keep warm.

Pam Schaller, senior aquatic biologist at the academy, told the Associated Press that despite the fact that penguins in this species are more accustomed to temperate climates than others, Pierre “was cold” and a heat lamp to solve that problem wasn’t enough.

So she thought of a better solution: if wetsuits can keep humans warm in cold waters, why wouldn’t that also work on Pierre? With the help of Oceanic Worldwide, a dive gear supplier in San Leandro, the penguin suit idea took shape.

Teo Tertel, company marketing specialist, told the AP: “We were really excited to do it. We heard most of these penguins only live to 20, and our little buddy there was already 25. Anything we could do to help them, we were all for it.”

And the suit appears to have done its job! Six weeks later, the penguin looks much better, has gain weight and grown back feathers, blending once again in the community of penguins.



Image Credit: AP
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