Demonstrators confront riot police during clashes in central Brussels November 6, 2014. Tens of thousands of public and private sector workers, employees and trade union members demonstrated over austerity measures to be taken by the new Belgian government. (Photo by Francois Lenoir/Reuters)
A person dressed up as Saitama from One Punch Man attends the 2018 New York Comic Con in Manhattan, New York on October 4, 2018. (Photo by Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)
Models walk the runway at the Versace Pre-Fall 2019 Collection at The American Stock Exchange on December 02, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by J.P. Yim/Getty Images)
A model walks the runway for Chromat during New York Fashion Week: The Shows at Industria Studios on February 9, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Chromat)
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.