A special new outfit has brought a touch of comfort to Bridget, an elderly penguin.

Bridget, a 37-year-old Gentoo penguin residing at the Kansas City Zoo, was having trouble bending down to access her uropygial gland, which is situated at the base of her tail. According to a Facebook post by the zoo, this gland produces a preen oil that helps “waterproof” a penguin’s feathers.

Without this oil, especially for a smaller penguin like Bridget, it can lead to a loss of body heat, the zoo explained.

Sean Putney, the zoo’s executive director, informed YSL News on Friday that Bridget’s situation is quite common. Just as humans do, penguins experience a decline in their abilities as they age, becoming less mobile and flexible.

“She can no longer reach back to her gland, so her feathers appear a bit messy. If she enters water, her feathers do not provide the waterproofing necessary for warmth,” Putney added.

Whitney Geslois, a senior animal care specialist at the zoo, observed Bridget frequently lying down, and despite various medications, she wasn’t finding relief. Imaging tests showed Bridget could not access her uropygial gland, as reported by FOX5 KVVU-TV.

In response, Geslois and a colleague devised a solution by creating a custom wetsuit to help keep Bridget warm.

‘Spicy old lady’ embraces her new gear

The idea for Bridget’s wetsuit originated from similar cases in other zoos where penguins received wetsuits for comparable challenges, noted Putney.

“She thought, ‘Let’s try this with Bridget,’ and that’s precisely what happened,” Putney said. “Bridget has been wearing the wetsuit for a couple of weeks now, and she is using it well.”

While reading Bridget’s emotions can be challenging, she doesn’t seem to be bothering with the suit, according to Putney. The wetsuit provides essential “warmth” that Bridget otherwise might not have.

“It’s a creative approach to animal care, focusing on their well-being in ways that aren’t documented in standard care guidelines for a 37-year-old penguin, like making a wetsuit. I’m truly proud of Whitney and the staff for their ingenuity in helping an older penguin enjoy her final years with a better quality of life,” he said.

Gentoo penguins typically live for about 15 to 20 years, making Bridget an exceptionally old penguin, according to Putney.

Nevertheless, Bridget’s age and health issues haven’t kept her from enjoying life. With her wetsuit, she’s “always prepared for her next snowy escapade!”

“Bridget is quite the feisty lady. She has her favorite spot; she adores her snow piles and prefers to hang out on the right side of her habitat,” Geslois told FOX5 KVVU-TV. “She will peck at anyone who dares to get close. For 37, she navigates her space quite well. She takes occasional dips and plays in the snow every day.”

The wetsuit, which is removed each night, has been an adjustment for Bridget, who sometimes gives a nip or two, Geslois mentioned. Overall, however, she’s adapted to it “relatively well.”