Surf’s up for Pierre the Penguin!
Pierre, an African (or Jackass) penguin, at a good 25 years old, was going bald with an embarrassingly exposed, pale pink behind.
Without his waterproof feathers, Pierre was unwilling to take the plunge into the penguin tank and would shiver on the sidelines while his peers played in the water.
“He was cold; he would shake,” said a senior aquatic biologist at the academy.
Oceanic Worldwide, a supplier of dive gear, stepped in to make the world’s first penguin wetsuit.
“We were really excited to do it,” said a company marketing specialist. “We heard most of these penguins only live to 20, and our little buddy there was already 25. Anything we could do to help them, we were all for it.”
Pierre was outfitted with the suit about six weeks ago. Since then, he has gained weight, grown back feathers on his hind parts and is again acting like his feisty, alpha-male self.
No plans yet for a matching surf board!
April 26th, 2008 at 5:28 am
CUTE!