The 2019 Nissan Altima sits covered before being presented at the New York Auto Show in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 28, 2018. (Photo by Brendan McDermid/Reuters)
Historical reenactor Troy Kotz poses with a mug of wassail in the parlor of the Guyon-Lake-Tysen House during the annual Candlelight Tour of Historic Richmond Town, Saturday, December 13, 2014, in the Staten Island borough of New York. The annual event lets visitors experience an authentic Victorian Christmas. This image was made using the TinType by Hipstamatic iPhone app. (Photo by Chad Rachman/New York Post)
Swimmers in fancy dress splash as they participate in the New Year's Day Loony Dook swim at South Queensferry, Scotland January 1, 2015. (Photo by Russell Cheyne/Reuters)
A participant covers himself with a blanket as it rains at the venue of the World Culture Festival on the banks of a river in New Delhi, India, March 11, 2016. (Photo by Adnan Abidi/Reuters)
A little blue penguin which was found at Papamoa Beach, covered in oil after the Liberian cargo ship, Rena, hit a reef, on October 7, 2011, in Tauranga, New Zealand. Reports of an oil sheen have been spotted on the surface of the water surrounding the ship and two penguins have been found covered in oil. (Photo by SUNLIVE New Zealand/Getty Images)
Penguin sweaters, also known as penguin jumpers, are sweaters which are knitted for penguins that have been caught in oil slicks. When an oil spill affects penguins, they are dressed in knitted sweaters to stop them preening their feathers and to keep them warm, since the spilled oil destroys their natural oils. This also prevents them from poisoning themselves by ingesting the oil. The sweaters are removed and discarded as soon as the penguins can be washed. The original project has been completed, but the knitting pattern is still available on-line, as subsequent oil spills make it necessary. The extra sweaters are kept on behalf of the Wildlife Rescue Team.