After a container ship crashed off the coast of New Zealand’s North Island earlier this month, the country’s blue penguins have been soaked with oil. The spill was described as the nation’s “most significant maritime environmental disaster” by Environmental Minister Nick Smith.

After being cleaned up, these little birds need some extra help staying warm, and an effective way to prevent them from preening their contaminated feathers. So, a knitting shop in New Zealand decided to recruit as many knitters as they could to make sweaters for the penguins. The recruitment worked well. Knitters from around the world took out their needles and got to work.

While they did end up with some extras they are still encouraging people to send them as backups. The sweaters have to be of specific measurements and made of 100 percent wool yarn.

Sources: MSN

Photo Source: Toby Zerna/Newspix via Rex USA file