Chilean researchers use copper vests to heal injured penguins

Researchers in Chile have developed specialized red vests for injured Humboldt penguins to accelerate the healing of skin wounds. These snug garments are threaded with copper and zinc microfibers, a technology previously successful in treating wounds in domestic pets like dogs and cats.

The initiative, supported by Ignacio Idalsoaga, director of the Buin Zoo near Santiago, comes as the Humboldt penguin population faces a severe decline. Recent surveys conducted between 2024 and 2025 revealed a 63% drop in active nests compared to three years prior.

Environmental stressors contributing to the decline include plastic pollution, disease, entanglement in fishing nets, and competition with fisheries. Additionally, the El Niño weather pattern has caused warmer Pacific waters, making essential food sources harder to find and leading to increased instances of abandoned chicks and environmental injuries.