TOURISM INDIA MARCH 2019 Tourism India January 2019 IA | Page 38

DE S T I NAT ION / OU T B OU N D
ENDANGERED PENGUINS IN ONESIES AND
SURVIVAL OF THE BEST DRESSED
PENGUIN PLACE IS ONE OF THE OTAGO PENINSULA'S BEST LOVED WILDLIFE EXPERIENCES
V
eterinary staff caring for
some of the world's most
endangered penguins have
come up with a simple but novel
solution to aid the recovery of their
patients by dressing them in the
practical all-in-one baby garment
known as a onesie.
The onesie, it seems, is a good way
to prevent the penguin patients from
scratching or pecking at their wounds,
and thereby allowing new feathers the
chance to grow.
The innovative idea came about
when wildlife hospital staff were faced
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Tourism India January 2019
with treating a juvenile yellow-eyed
penguin with substantial feather
damage.
“Just like any toddler the little one
insisted on picking at his wounds,
not allowing new feathers to grow,”
said Dunedin Wildlife Hospital Trust
chairman, Steve Walker.
The baby onesies provided the
perfect solution preventing the penguin
from damaging itself. Walker says the
penguin fashionista in question, who is
known as Plucky, is now convalescing
at Penguin Place wildlife centre
where he is something of a sensation
with visitors lucky enough to catch a
glimpse.
“It seems that babies of all species
need bespoke wardrobe items and this
little guy is now on the mend thanks to
this snappy fashion choice.”
Inspired by the success of the idea,
Dunedin Wildlife Hospital has put out
a call to baby clothing manufacturers
with the idea of creating specially
designed penguin-themed onesies.
Dunedin is the 'wildlife capital of
New Zealand', with many rare and
endangered species inhabiting the
surrounding area. Before the Dunedin