This is a free pattern published by The Phillip Island Penguin Foundation.

As at August 2019 there is a campaign for more knitted rehabilitation jumpers to ensure there are sufficient in the event of an oil spill.

Oil pollution is a serious threat to little penguins. When penguins become oiled, they will try to preen and clean the toxic oil from their feathers, ingesting it can kill them. It also damages their delicate feathers which exposes their skin to cold temperatures and they are left cold, heavy and unable to swim or hunt for food.

Little penguin rehabilitation jumpers can play an important role in saving these oil affected penguins. When oiled penguins are rescued and admitted to the Phillip Island Wildlife Clinic, knitted penguin jumpers may be temporarily placed on the penguins. These act as a barrier to prevent the penguin from reaching its oily feathers with its beak before Phillip Island Nature Parks Wildlife Rescue staff are able to wash it clean. It will then spend time recuperating and recovering at the Wildlife Clinic.

Jumpers that are not knitted ‘just right’ or are crocheted, and so are not suitable for penguin rehabilitation, are sold on fund-raising toys at the Penguin Parade and the Adopt-a-Penguin program. If you would like to contribute in this way, please feel free to post in your wildest little penguin jumper creations to help raise further funds!