Custom-made footwear helps New England penguin walk again

BOSTON — A 24-year-old African penguin is walking again after over two years of specialized care for a foot condition at the New England Aquarium.

Beach Donkey was diagnosed in the summer of 2020 by animal care staff at the New England Aquarium with pododermatitis, also known as bumblefoot, due to large calluses that had developed on the penguin’s feet, according to WFXT-TV.

“Pododermatitis is a common condition that affects both wild penguins as well as those in human care, and may be associated with numerous factors, including body weight, activity level, age, environment and genetics,” Aquarium officials told WFXT. “If left untreated, the condition can lead to infection of the bone.”

The aquarium’s veterinarians and aquarists developed a multifaceted treatment plan for Beach Donkey that included medications, surgical procedures, foot treatments and custom-made footwear.

Because Beach Donkey grew accustomed to her new shoes and received multiple treatments, she was able to undergo another foot surgery.

“The procedure involved a bandaging process over the course of several weeks that incorporated her shoes and allowed her feet to heal well enough to handle hard surfaces. Since then, her condition has improved significantly,” said aquarium officials. “She is now considered healed from bumblefoot, and animal care staff will continue with preventative care measures.”

Beach Donkey, at age 24, is one of many penguins at the New England Aquarium who have exceeded their life expectancy of 10 to 15 years in the wild.

In August, orthopedic footwear was also used on an African penguin in San Diego.

Thera-Paw created custom shoes for a 4-year-old penguin named Lucas, who also had bumblefoot. According to The Associated Press, the neoprene-and-rubber shoes helped to prevent pressure sores from developing when Lucas stands and walks.

African penguins are an endangered species and their numbers have dropped by more than 60%, according to the AP.

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