Feeding 25,000 penguins is no small feat. Predators by nature, penguins are not used to eating dead fish — they prefer live prey. So, initially, handlers had to force-feed the birds to get them to eat. The penguins did not take kindly to the process, and thanked their rescuers with fierce pecks and flipper-slaps. Handlers had to wear heavy rubber gloves, shoes and pants for protection. After a few weeks of being force-fed, most penguins eventually became accustomed to the process and would take dead fish without a fight.