All Decked Out
Australia's Fairy Penguins are stylishly ready for winter - and any oil spills that may occur, thanks to some caring crafters.
A thousand individually knit sweaters have been sent to the Australian island state of Tasmania. The sweaters, which cover the 15-inch penguins from neck to ankle, protect the birds in the event of an oil spill.
The designer threads come in a variety of colors and designs, including football team colors and tuxedo models, complete with bow tie.
The Tasmanian Conservation Trust has been inundated with the tiny garments after a local appeal earlier this year.
"They have come from everywhere, even as far away as Japan. Someone in New York asked for a pattern, but we haven't received it yet," said Jo Castle, a spokeswoman for the Trust.
The sweater pattern is based on one used for seabirds in the northern hemisphere, only smaller for the more smaller southern species.
"It was re-designed for the little penguins in the southern hemisphere," Castle said. "They are not very happy about them, but they cover them from neck to ankle which stops them preening themselves and ingesting poisonous oil."
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