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Copper vests help Chile's penguins heal
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Researchers in Chile have developed red vests threaded with copper and zinc to help injured Humboldt penguins heal faster, adapting technology previously used for treating pets like dogs and cats.
- The vests inhibit bacterial and fungal growth while zinc promotes new blood vessel formation, accelerating tissue repair in penguins with wounds from fishing nets, boat propellers, and other environmental hazards.
- Chile’s Humboldt penguin population has declined by 63% in major breeding colonies over three years due to threats including pollution, disease, competition for food, and the impacts of the El Nino weather pattern.
- The vests also prevent penguins from pecking at their own injuries or stitches, improving recovery outcomes in wildlife rehabilitation clinics across Chile.
- Early results show penguins tolerate the vests well, with noticeable wound improvement observed within a day of treatment.
