A macaw got a new 3D-printed titanium prosthetic beak after the original was torn off in a fight with another bird.
A team of South African veterinary specialists fitted Max, a rescue believed to be about 20 years old, with his new beak. With only a lower beak left, Max was unable to eat solid foods. The surgery lasted just over an hour and within a day, Max was eating again.
Trevor Glover, the owner of the Hyacinth Haven Bird Sanctuary, in the seaside town of Plettenberg Bay, in South Africa, said: "When Max's top beak got broken off, that piece was kept and given to Dr Brendan Tindall, who made a mold of it to keep if needed.
"When the remaining part of the beak left on Max had settled completely, an impression of the stump was taken. These two items were sent to Bunnycorp to scan into their CAD program. This then formed the basis of discussion and from that, the initial trial beaks were designed.
"Over the two-year period until the final prosthetic was printed in titanium, there were several other impressions taken to check the stability of the remaining stump. This was aided by the CAT scan, done to confirm there was enough solid material available to which the prosthetic could be attached. The waiting period also confirmed the stump showed zero growth.
Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
October, 2021
Source: Hyacinth Haven Bird Sanctuary
#Animals #Conservation #3DPrinting #Wildlife #Science
