Knitters wanted to create jumpers for little penguins

The Penguin Foundation in Australia has a put out global call for knitters to make pullovers for penguins in rehab. Penguins caught in oil spills need the little jumpers to keep warm and to stop them from trying to clean the toxic oil off with their beaks.



Knitter Lyn Blom is the receptionist at Phillip Island Nature Parks in Victoria and has knitted many penguin jumpers over the years. The Penguin Foundation is based at Phillip Island, which is known for having a large penguin colony. Ms Blom says it's not just major oil spills that cause problems for local penguins.

"Fishermen might clean out a container or something while they're at sea," says Lyn. "It's a continuing problem," she says. "We get probably about 20 birds a year." One advantage of knitting a penguin sweater is that they are small. "They're very quick," added Lyn.



The Penguin Foundation also distributes the jumpers to other wildlife rescue centres where needed. While the Penguin Foundation says it currently has a 'good supply' of the little jumpers, the organisation also uses them in educational programs as well as selling them as a fundraising measure. You can download more information about how to knit for penguins, including the knitting pattern and where to send the finished product here. (PDF Doc.)