Skeinz, a yarn store in New Zealand, recently put out a call for people to knit sweaters for young penguins, after a number were caught up in an oil spill off the coast of Tauranga.

Oil clogs the feathers of penguins, says the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (which received the sweaters) in a recent press release, “and reduces their insulating and waterproofing qualities. Even worse, the penguins attempt to clean themselves by preening, and rapidly become poisoned.”

The Trust has reported that it has received over 15,000 sweaters, “which will be stored in Oil Spill Response Kits around Tasmania” ready to be used in the case of a major spill.