企鹅的新装：爱心毛衣为企鹅抵御石油污染

They survive in some of the coldest environments in the world - but even penguins appreciate a warm woolly jumper once in a while.

企鹅在世界上最寒冷的环境下生存，但有时候它们也渴望有一件温暖的毛衣。

The mini knitted garments have helped save hundreds of flightless birds caught in oil spills, providing protection from the elements and stopping them from ingesting poisonous pollution.

由于石油泄露，企鹅们很可能接触到石油中的微量元素，甚至误食这些有毒的污染物。而迷你毛衣能给它们很好的保护，成功拯救了数百只企鹅。

Knits for Nature, a program run by The Penguin Foundation, which conserves the little penguin population of Phillip Island, 140km south-east of Melbourne, has created up to 300 different designs over the years - and it's all thanks to talented volunteers.

为了保护菲利普岛（墨尔本东南部140千米处）上的小企鹅，企鹅基金会发起了为企鹅织毛衣的活动。到目前为止，基金会已经设计了300多种不同的毛衣款式，这都要感谢心灵手巧的志愿者们。

‘There’s a lot of hidden creativity out there,' said Lyn Blom, of the Phillip Island Nature Park.

菲利普岛上自然公园的工作人员布洛姆说：“我们发现了很多隐藏的创意。”

'People love to know that they’re helping the penguins because they’re so cute and small and they waddle up the beach and they’re so feisty. But they need to be, they live in a pretty tough sort of environment.’

“人们愿意帮助企鹅，因为它们又小又可爱，活跃极了。在沙滩上摇摆着身体走动时，它们又显得那么坚强。 这又是必然的，毕竟它们生活在这么恶劣的条件下。”

A thumbnail-sized patch of oil can kill little penguins, the smallest of the species, measuring just 13 inches (33cm) and weighing 2.2lbs (1kg). The oil separates and mats their feathers, breaking natural waterproofing and heating functions.

一滩指甲盖大小的石油就足以杀死一只小企鹅。最小的企鹅大概只有13英寸（33厘米）长，体重2.2磅（1千克）。石油会使得它们的羽毛缠结在一起且分散开，这样羽毛就失去了防水和保温的作用。

Ms Blom estimates she has knitted between 200 and 300 penguin jumpers over the years, including ones in the colours of every Australian Rules football team in the country.

布洛姆自己就织了大约两到三百件毛衣，她还制作了一个毛衣系列，采用的是澳大利亚所有足球队的代表颜色。

A staff member read an article in an English women’s magazine about knitting for guillemot birds and decided to adapt the designs.

之所以采用毛衣，是因为基金会的一名员工在一本女性杂志上看到了一篇给海鸟织毛衣的文章，随后就决定模仿这一设计。

‘There’s an awful lot of ladies out there who used to knit for their children and grandchildren. These ladies have spare wool and idle hands, and they love to feel loved and needed and we love and need them,’ said Ms Blom.

布洛姆说：“许多女性朋友为自己的孩子织毛衣，她们乐意帮助我们，也会提供多余的毛线和手工，她们喜欢这种被爱被需要的感觉。基金会也非常感谢和需要她们。”

The Penguin Foundation recently staged a competition for the most creative jumper, which received an enthusiastic response.

最近，企鹅基金会举办了一场“最具创意毛衣”大赛，获得了不错的反响。

The Penguin Foundation rescues approximately 20 birds a year. They even have a stockpile of jumpers in case of emergency - such as the large oil spill near Phillip Island in 2001.

每年，企鹅基金会拯救的企鹅大约在20只。他们甚至还有毛衣储备以应对紧急情况，比如2001年菲利普岛附近的大规模石油泄露事件。

In that instance, 453 Little Penguins were affected, 96 percent of which were saved - most thanks to the jumpers.

那次事件中，453只企鹅受到了影响，当中96%的企鹅获救——最大的功臣就是毛衣了。