Jumpers needed for South Yorkshire Skinny Pigs
The Tropical Butterfly House in Sheffield is asking people to knit jumpers for its family of skinny pigs to help keep them warm
People across South Yorkshire are being asked to knit jumpers for some little Skinny Pigs.
They're basically bald guinea pigs and are new to the Tropical Butterfly House in Sheffield.
Abigail Carter works at the centre and has described them as looking like "little hippos".
She said:
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"They need to kept at around 20 degrees and are kept at the correct temperature; the competition is just a bit of fun! We are planning on putting the winning jumper on a Skinny Pig for a photo, and we will pick one which won't irritate the skin. They are perfectly happy without jumpers.
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"I think they'll be fine with it. When we put in anything soft and fluffy they always cuddle up to it, so to have something on them I think it'll work really well.
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"The dad is a bit of a boisterous boy so he definitely needs a manly jumper. The mum - she's a typical mum so something pink would be nice. The babies are just coming in to their personalities at the minute. They're very squeaky and very loud so probably something a little outrageous would be brilliant for them!"
The centre has of course reassured us that the Skinny Pigs are always kept at a safe and appropriate temperature and that the jumper competition is just a bit of fun.
Knitters need to use sensitive yarn which would normally be used for babies so the jumpers don't irritate their hairless skin.
The adults are around 9 inches long and their babies about 3 inches.
Entrants can send their donated miniature jumpers here:
Louise Larcombe Marketing Manager Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife & Falconry Centre Woodsetts Road North Anston Sheffield South Yorkshire S25 4EQ
The favourite jumper will win its knitter an afternoon tea for 2 and of course a cuddle with the Skinny Pigs!