Penguin's Special Pants Fix Its Feet

The penguin needed help to fix its splayed feet

ByABC News
August 21, 2014, 2:55 PM
A penguin chick born with splayed legs finally has happy feet after wearing a special pair of trousers that fixed the deformity. Staff at the Sea Life Centre in Scarborough, North Yorkshire realized it had the problem when it was around 3 weeks old. They believe it was caused by the parents' sitting on it too heavily. So staffers wrapped its legs in tight-fitting trousers made from an elastic material.
A penguin chick born with splayed legs finally has happy feet after wearing a special pair of trousers that fixed the deformity. Staff at the Sea Life Centre in Scarborough, North Yorkshire realized it had the problem when it was around 3 weeks old. They believe it was caused by the parents' sitting on it too heavily. So staffers wrapped its legs in tight-fitting trousers made from an elastic material.
SeaLife/BNPS

— -- Though they seem to waddle with ease, even penguins need a little help perfecting their strut once in a while.

For a penguin at the Scarborough Sea Life Sanctuary in the U.K., that help came in the form of a customized pair of trousers made from a tight, bandage-like elastic material.

The Humboldt penguin chick was born with splayed legs as a result of its parents sitting on it too heavily, a Sea Life spokeswoman told the U.K.’s Daily Mail.

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“It was a result of some over-zealous parenting by first-time mum and dad, Pinky and Kev, basically they sat on him a bit too heavily,” said spokeswoman Lyndsey Crawford, according to the Daily Mail.

PHOTO:A penguin chick born with splayed legs finally has happy feet after wearing a special pair of trousers that fixed the deformity. Staff at the Sea Life Centre in Scarborough, North Yorkshire realized it had the problem when it was around 3 weeks old.
A penguin chick born with splayed legs finally has happy feet after wearing a special pair of trousers that fixed the deformity. Staff at the Sea Life Centre in Scarborough, North Yorkshire realized it had the problem when it was around 3 weeks old. They believe it was caused by the parentsâ?? sitting on it too heavily. So staffers wrapped its legs in tight-fitting trousers made from an elastic material.

“The tailored trousers applied just enough pressure to gently squeeze his legs together as he continued to grow,” she said. "Their growth is so rapid it can result in a permanent disability unless treated quickly."

Sea Life officials, who did not respond to ABC News' request for comment, shared the Daily Mail story on the sanctuary's Facebook page with the caption, "We've got some amazing news to share! Meet our latest addition to our colony of Humboldt Penguins!"

After six weeks of therapy that included not just the trousers but also sitting in a shallow pool, the penguin is now back to waddling as expected.

"It may have had a wobbly start to life with his legs, but we don't expect any problems with his water wings," Crawford told the Daily Mail.

Sea Life is home to 10 Humboldt penguins, according to its website.