[Animals] The story of 'Lucas', the African penguin who will be able to walk again with the help of the San Diego Zoo

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The “boots” that the specialists at the San Diego Zoo specially designed for Lucas will help him walk and be pain-free from now on.
Lucas is a 4-year-old African penguin. Long ago, the keepers and specialists at the San Diego Zoo — which has been his home since his earliest days — diagnosed him with "bumblefoot," a degenerative disease of the legs. Unfortunately, according to the diagnosis of the doctors who supervised his case, the condition is incurable.

If it had gone unnoticed, or without rigorous attention, the African penguin would be destined not to be able to walk well. To prevent the bird from losing its independence, zoo specialists "created and outfitted Lucas with custom orthopedic shoes made of neoprene and rubber," according to a statement.

a new pair of shoes

Researchers at the San Diego Zoo collaborated with Thera-Paw, an organization dedicated to designing and manufacturing rehabilitation and assistance products for animals with special needs. To meet Lucas's needs, they created a pair of 'booties' that prevent the penguin from developing ulcers, due to the pressure he exerts on his feet and ankles when he stands up.

As described by the Naturalista platform, African penguins are "medium in size and robust in appearance." They can measure up to 70 centimeters tall, and weigh up to 5 kilos. Just like Lucas, its plumage is black on both the wings and the legs and back. They live near the South Pole. Mainly, they are seen in South Africa and Patagonia.

With the intention of guaranteeing a good quality of life for Lucas, the teams from both institutions joined forces. Fortunately, Lucas has responded very well to his new pair of shoes:

“WE WERE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY THE IMMEDIATE CHANGE IN LUCAS AFTER WE PUT HIS NEW BOOTS ON HIM,” SHARED DEBBIE DENTON, SENIOR WILDLIFE CARE SPECIALIST AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO. “SEEING HIM MOVING NOW GIVES US HOPE THAT HE CAN BE WELL IN THE FUTURE AND LIVE A FULL LIFE.”

The improvement has been drastic, say specialists. More than anything, because their 'boots' are padded. This will allow you to integrate back into the community without inconvenience. Even, according to Dr. Beth Bicknese, senior veterinarian at the San Diego Zoo, it will eventually be able to "display behaviors that are more typical of a penguin, such as rock climbing, swimming, nesting, and finding a suitable mate."

https://www.ngenespanol.com/animales/conoce-a-lucas-el-pinguino-africano-que-camina-con-botas-ortopedicas-en-el-sd-zoo/