Watch as a disabled and isolated penguin is given new life

Lucas had some troubles at the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California.

Despite being the second egg to hatch, he became a “loner” due to a foot condition. KFMB TV.

The four-year-old African penguin was diagnosed a few years ago with a rare spinal condition that left Lucas “with weak muscles in his legs and an inability to stand properly on his toes.”

It made him do it stroll “In a range where he shouldn’t be carrying his weight,” said lead veterinarian Beth Bicknese TODAY.

Someone’s falling off lucky feet! Lucas the penguin waddles in style at the San Diego Zoo in his new orthopedic shoes. 🐧 🥾

Lucas is struggling with a foot problem but has been outfitted with some snazzy new shoes you should check out. https://t.co/752OdeW62u pic.twitter.com/Q8GgDgzCjc

— Breakfast TV (@breakfasttv) September 1, 2022

Bicknese stated that he could not survive in the wild, showing the gravity of the situation.

The condition known as bumblefoot is “inflammation of the ball of the foot.” Penguins International.

Left untreated, the condition can be fatal.

In order to help little Lucas, the zoo let him waddle in the sand to get an impression of his prints.

Thera-paw Then Lucas made a pair of orthopedic boots out of rubber and neoprene, KFMB reported.

“I’ve known him since he was an egg. We’re very bonded,” Wildlife Care Specialist Debbie Denton told KFMB.

“So it warms my heart to know that there was something we could do to make him feel more comfortable and fit in a little bit better with the colony,” she continued.

With modern technology, little Lucas now has some new kicks to show the ladies.

But keep it in check, he already has a girlfriend. Lucas was described as “alive again,” according to TODAY.

“There is no limp. There’s no advantage for his left side,” Denton said, reported KFMB.

The San Diego zoo has a web-based reality TV show called “Penguin Beach.” The penguins are followed around while a narrator describes their daily encounters.

“Penguins are a remarkable family of birds,” said one zookeeper.

“There is no other species of animal that is so widely distributed over such an enormous geographical range, or has so many unique characteristics among its members.”

Who knew a new pair of shoes could make such a big difference?

This article originally appeared on The West Journal.

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