Custom-made orthopaedic boots keep penguins on their feet in San Diego

The San Diego Zoo in California equipped a penguin with new custom-made therapy boots that helps him walk normally. Lucas, the San Diego penguin of the African colony, was diagnosed with bumblefoot, a degenerative foot condition affecting birds' ability to walk. Bumblefoot is an infection that can cause sepsis and death if not treated. The zoo came up with an alternative of providing him with an orthopaedic boot for his left foot.

In a press release released Monday, the San Diego Wildlife Alliance said Lucas, a 4-year-old penguin, has lesions on the left foot due to this chronic condition. The wildlife care experts at the San Diego zoo consulted with Thera-Paw, an organization that produces animal rehabilitative and assistive products for differently-abled animals.

In order to prevent Lucas from developing pressure sores when standing and walking, Thera-Paw created custom shoes out of neoprene and rubber. The penguin's problems started more than three years ago. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, African penguins have suffered a massive population drop from an evaluated one million to about only eighteen thousand breeding pairs today. Hence, it became more important for the zoo to save Lucas. Debbie Denton, the zoo caretaker, says they first noticed him limping on his left foot, and later, he got diagnosed with this fatal illness, but with his new foot, they can see him better and comfortably.



There is no hobbling on his left side any longer, making them feel happy and proud of the job done well, as Lucas was one of the first birds she raised in that zoo. This custom boot is well cushioned, velcroed well in place and made of neoprene for the African colony penguin to fully participate in swimming, colony, climbing, and even making nests. According to Debbie, Lucas now fits in the colony a little better, which makes her content and gives them hope that he may be able to lead an everyday life in future.