January 20 is Penguin Awareness Day. The two you see in this picture are not a prank. Australia’s Phillip Island Nature Park has been dressing Little Penguins (the species name) in hand-knitted wool jumpers to help them survive the oil leaks and spills that happen every day in the Earth’s oceans. Given that a patch of oil the size of a thumbnail is enough to kill the little bird, in 1998 a volunteer came up with the idea of attiring the Little Penguins in sweaters.

The Penguin Foundation is still looking for people to knit jumpers for penguins. If you’re a knitter, you couldn’t find a more interesting and unique project.

These posts are true to the best of my knowledge at the time of writing. I make no claims as to their accuracy. The purpose is to inform, educate, amuse, and make people aware of causes and opportunities around the world. I also encourage civil debate in the comment section.