After experiencing feather-loss, a female Adelie penguin at Orlando’s SeaWorld has been given a hand-made wet suit by the park’s wardrobe designer to help keep her warm.
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‘Wonder Twin’ is a penguin in SeaWorld Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin exhibit. Her feather loss, which the park claims can happen in its natural habitat, is hindering the animal from regulating its own body temperature.
“It’s going to keep her warm, especially in the water,” said SeaWorld aviculturist TD Dray. “Penguins live almost three-quarters of their life in the water. And now with that wet suit she’s going to be in there and be able to keep warm.”
SeaWorld says the wet suit is intended to mimic the penguin’s natural feather coat, allowing her to swim, eat and sleep naturally like other penguins.
“I’m happy that everything is going OK, you know, and they approve, and she can wear for keeping her warm,” said Maria Barreto, the wardrobe craftsperson who designed the wet suit.
“I think it’s amazing to be able to take everyday technology and use it to be able to help us care for the animals,” Dray added.
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