Ralph the Featherless Penguin Gets Designer Threads
Great news for Ralph, the featherless penguin! Keepers at England’s Marwell Wildlife have fitted the penguin with designer duds made especially for him.
Feathers, crucial in keeping penguins warm and dry, provide insulation and protection from the wind and weather. Each year, new feathers grow underneath the old, worn-out feathers. Once a new feather is in place, it pushes the old feather out until all the old feathers have been completely replaced. The annual process, called molting or shedding, normally takes about four weeks, depending on the species.
