An injured southern ground hornbill at Artis Zoo in Amsterdam has received two custom-made, 3D-printed prostheses to replace the broken upper and lower parts of its beak. In what is believed to be a world-first procedure, the bird began using its new beak on the day of surgery.
The procedure was carried out through a collaboration involving Artis Zoo, Utrecht University’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UMC Utrecht and Amnovis. Artis veterinarian Martine van Zijll Langhout and avian specialist Yvonne van Zeeland helped develop the treatment plan. “He started using the prostheses on the day of the surgery. “If they do, this innovative treatment could open up new possibilities in veterinary medicine. The researchers also hope to publish their findings, potentially paving the way for similar treatments for other injured birds.
The innovative treatment involved specialists from several Dutch institutions, according to a report by NL Times. The following morning, he independently picked up a small mouse from the ground,” the zoo said.
