Alfred Date from Australia started knitting in 1932 and he didn’t stop until the end. In 2013, he began making sweaters for penguins affected by oil spills, helping protect them while they waited to be cleaned.
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The penguin sweaters that Alfred knitted served a vital purpose in wildlife rehabilitation. When penguins became caught in oil spills, the oil coated their feathers, destroying the natural insulation and waterproofing that protected them.
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The specially designed sweaters prevented the penguins from preening and ingesting the toxic oil while they awaited cleaning. Without these protective garments, the penguins might have tried to clean the oil off themselves by using their beaks, which would have led to them swallowing the harmful substances.
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Alfred stayed true to his cause. Even in his final days, he continued to knit. He passed away in 2016, at the remarkable age of 110.
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h/t: Daily Mail
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