Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe PHILLIP ISLAND, Australia, March 6 (UPI) -- The Penguin Foundation in Australia put out an international call to knitters to make sweaters for penguins caught in oil spills and other toxic situations. The foundation, based on Phillip Island, Victoria, said the penguin sweaters are used by the foundation to keep penguins who have been caught in oil spills and similar situations warm and to prevent them from attempting to clean toxic substances off themselves with their beaks, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported Thursday. Advertisement Lyn Blom, a receptionist at Phillip Island Nature Parks, said she has knitted many penguin sweaters over the years, and she has seen them put to good use for incidents other than oil spills. "Fishermen might clean out a container or something while they're at sea," Blom said. "It's a continuing problem," she said. "We get probably about 20 birds a year." The foundation said it shares its sweaters with other wildlife rescue groups and the pullovers are also used for educational programs and occasional sales as fundraising measures. Read More Apartment fire blamed on pigeon with a lit cigarette Firm's 'biased to hiring women' job postings aim to fill a void Teacher allegedly called police on students who refused to smile Police: Man stole purse, 17 grocery shopping baskets Woman, 81, held without bail for feeding bears, birds