This FAQ was written by Sarah Bradberry
May 24th 2001 and will be updated
as need arises.
Last updated May 14th, 2012.
You can view this FAQ on Sarah Bradberry's website at http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/penguinfaq.htm
Questions covered in this FAQ
1: What
are penguin sweaters for?
2: Are
there still oil spills in Australia?
3: Are
Penguin sweaters needed any more?
4: Why
are penguin sweaters collected at
Phillip Island?
5: Why
are penguin sweaters collected in
Tasmania?
6: Where
can I get a pattern?
7: Where
should I send the sweaters I have
made?
8: Where
can I purchase a Little Penguin toy
wearing a sweater?
9: Where
can I go to keep updated about this
information?
Answers:
When an oil spill affects penguins
they are dressed in little knitted
sweaters to stop themselves preening
their feathers. This prevents them
poisoning themselves by ingesting
the oil. The sweaters are removed
and discarded as soon as the penguins
can be washed.
Some organisations also use the sweaters
on penguins while their natural oils
replenish themsleves.
No. Oil spills are very rare in penguin populated areas. However, stockpiles of little sweaters are collected by some agencies "just in case" an oil spill ever happens.
In a word, yes. But not because there have been any oil spills! (See questions 4 and 5)
The Philip Island Penguin Parade
organisation collects penguin sweaters
to be sold in their gift shop (They
even put them on cute Little Penguin
toys). The funds are then used for
research and conservation projects.
(See question 8 for details of where
to buy one).
Since these sweaters are never used
on real penguins, they may be knit
with any fancy or colourful yarn.
The fancier the better!
The Tasmanian Conservation Trust no longer collects penguin sweaters.
Even though they are no longer collecting
sweaters, The Tasmanian Conservation
Trust still has a pattern available
online at http://www.tct.org.au/jumper.htm#Tasmanian
Note: Australian 4 ply yarn is fingering
weight. While Australian 8 ply yarn
is double-knit weight.
You can find a conversion table for
needle sizes at http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/tips/convert.htm
To find out where to send your knitted
sweaters send email to:
Philip Island Penguin Parade: penguins@penguins.org.au
The Tasmanian Conservation Trust are
no longer collecting sweaters. To
find out about their new penguin conservation
projects you can visit their website
at: http://www.tct.org.au/jumper.htm#Tasmanian
You can purchase a toy online at the Philip Island Penguin Parade Gift Shop http://tinyurl.com/penguinfaq
The Philip Island Penguin Parade
website can be viewed at http://www.penguins.org.au/
You will need to email them for information
at penguins@penguins.org.au
including your return email address
as they do not keep the information
on the website.
The Tasmanian Conservation Trust
also has a website at http://www.tct.org.au
They have all the info you need right
on the webpage
This FAQ is copyright Sarah Bradberry
October 24th, 2002
This FAQ may be copied and shared freely
as long as all information remains exactly
as it appears in the original, including
this copyright notice. It may also be
published in guild newsletters and distributed
as a "handout" at guild meetings as
long as all information is exactly the
same as the original. Please link to
the FAQ at http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/penguinfaq.htm
rather than posting it on websites other
than those listed at the beginning of
the document.
