Chilean Vets Use Copper-Infused Vests to Heal Injured Penguins

Researchers in Chile have developed a novel, snug red vest infused with copper and zinc, designed to help injured penguins heal more quickly.

While veterinarians have previously achieved success using therapeutic suits on dogs and cats, they are now adapting this technology for Humboldt penguins in Chile, which hosts the largest population of this vulnerable species.

Ignacio Idalsoaga, director of the Buin Zoo on the outskirts of Santiago, explained that microfiber vests containing copper and zinc have long been used to aid skin wound recovery in pets. After taking measurements of penguins at the zoo to create the first custom bodysuits, they began to wonder why this proven technology could not be applied to aquatic birds as well. “For years, vests with microfibers containing elements like copper and zinc have been tested on pets, particularly dogs and cats, and have greatly helped in the recovery of skin wounds,” Idalsoaga told The Associated Press. “We began to wonder — why can’t this be used on penguins?”

This innovative experiment comes at a critical time, as the Humboldt penguin population in Chile faces a sharp decline. Recent surveys of major breeding colonies in 2024 and 2025 revealed a staggering 63% drop in active nests compared to three years prior. The vulnerable species is under mounting pressure from entanglement in fishing nets, plastic pollution, disease outbreaks, and competition with commercial fisheries for food.

Adding to these challenges, the birds are now contending with El Niño, one of the world’s most disruptive weather patterns. The phenomenon brings unusually warm waters to parts of the Pacific, driving away the cold-water fish that penguins depend on. This scarcity forces parents to travel further for food, often resulting in abandoned nests and chicks.

Idalsoaga warned that due to the ongoing El Niño conditions, they expect to see many abandoned chicks in the coming weeks, often suffering from environmental injuries.

Tomás Pino, a veterinarian who runs Conservación Humboldt, a nonprofit rehabilitating injured marine animals in northern Chile, noted that clinics across the country are receiving distressed penguins stranded on the coast. These birds arrive with injuries from fishing nets or boat propellers, or are severely weakened by hunger. Treating these animals is particularly challenging because penguins can easily twist their long necks to peck at wounds and pull out stitches. The copper-infused vests prevent this self-trauma while putting Chile’s abundant copper resources to therapeutic use. The copper and zinc woven into the fabric actively inhibit bacteria and fungi, while the zinc promotes the formation of new blood vessels, significantly accelerating tissue repair.

Pino reported that the penguins tolerate the vests remarkably well, noting a visible improvement in wound condition from one day to the next.

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