Being a fashionista isn’t usually something you associate with a penguin, but these days the penguins from the Two Oceans Aquarium are sporting some snazzy new looks.
Keen-eyed visitors noticed that more than one penguin was wearing pink socks and black booties.
But while some people might think this is a fashion choice to make them stand out from the rest, the real reason is more complex than wanting to show of the penguins cool kicks.
The team from the Two Oceans Aquarium decided to explain the reason for the fashionable footwear.
They explained that penguins living in captivity live longer than their wild counterparts, which is due to a regular, balanced and healthy diet as well as not having to avoid any predators.
These two factors mean penguins living in the aquarium have no real worries except sore feet. Sore feet in penguins can be a product of old injuries or the fact that they spend more time on their feet. The socks and booties help prevent or ease those problems.
“Captive penguins spend more time standing on land than their wild counterparts, and even if their habitat is immaculate, their risk of foot injuries and infections is higher, especially for older penguins with less effective healing and immune systems. This is a major consideration when designing living spaces for birds that are unable to be released back into the wild, like the rescued penguins the Aquarium cares for.”
A very common and quite fatal foot problem is Bumblefoot, it is quite common among all bird species but because penguins have flat, often moist feet, they can really suffer.
“This is where the socks come in. When a small foot injury, a suspicious red spot, or some other cause for concern is noted by the penguin keeper, the foot is sterilised and bandages are used to prevent the possibility of infection and to allow small wounds to recover. Bumblefoot is a severe and potentially fatal infection – so swift action is always best! It’s the outer layer of veterinary stretch bandages that appear as the pink socks that have recently gone viral online.”
Sources: Business Insider, Aquarium.co.za, Goodthingsguy
Follow FiND iT on Facebook here.
ALSO READ: Traceability and biosecurity essential for SA’s beef industry
