AI Generated Image
In Chile, injured penguins sport copper vests to help them heal
ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos • • world
Key Points:
- Researchers in Chile have developed red vests threaded with copper and zinc to help injured Humboldt penguins heal faster, adapting a technique previously used for dogs and cats.
- The Humboldt penguin population in Chile has declined by 63% in major breeding colonies over three years, facing threats such as fishing net entanglement, plastic pollution, disease, competition for food, and the effects of El Nino.
- The copper and zinc in the vests inhibit bacterial and fungal growth while stimulating tissue repair, preventing penguins from aggravating their wounds by pecking or removing stitches.
- Wildlife clinics report that penguins tolerate the vests well, with noticeable wound improvement observed within a day of treatment.
- The initiative aims to support penguin recovery amid increasing environmental challenges and a surge in injured and abandoned chicks due to changing ocean conditions.
