A penguin from the African penguin colony at the San Diego Zoo has been fitted with orthopedic shoes to help it manage a degenerative foot condition.
If left untreated, the foot condition could have resulted in a serious infection
The chronic disease bumblefoot, which refers to a number of bird foot problems, has left the 4-year-old penguin named Lucas with sores on his feet, according to a news release from the San Diego Wildlife Alliance. If left untreated, bumblefoot can result in sepsis and infection-related death.
San Diego Zoo and Thera-Paw created a pair of neoprene and rubber shoes for Lucas
The zoo’s wildlife care professionals got in touch with Thera-Paw, a firm that creates rehabilitative and assistive equipment for animals with particular needs.
Thera-Paw created a pair of neoprene and rubber shoes for Lucas to prevent pressure sores from developing while he stands and walks.
The problems with the penguin first came to light almost three years ago.
African penguins have been classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to a sharp decline in their population.