A veterinary team in the Netherlands has successfully installed a complete artificial beak, including both upper and lower parts, on an endangered Southern Ground Hornbill at Artis Zoo in the capital Amsterdam, using 3D printing technology, in a procedure considered the first of its kind globally, according to the supervising authorities.
Surgical Procedure Details
The US agency UPI reported the day before yesterday that the procedure was carried out in collaboration between the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the University Medical Center in the city of Utrecht, and the company Amnovis, specializing in 3D printing technologies, where the artificial beak was designed and successfully installed.
Restoring Feeding Ability
The zoo clarified that the bird suffered an injury that damaged parts of its upper and lower beak, hindering its ability to pick up solid food from the ground and obtain its food independently, threatening its survival. The zoo noted that previous experiments in veterinary medicine involved installing artificial parts to compensate for missing parts of the beak, but this case is distinguished by repairing both the upper and lower sections simultaneously, allowing the bird to regain its ability to eat and use its beak.
Importance of Technology and Global Classification
This procedure reflects the potential of 3D printing technologies in developing compensatory solutions in veterinary medicine, especially for animals suffering from injuries that affect their ability to feed and move. The Southern Ground Hornbill is classified as a globally endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, due to the decline in its numbers caused by the loss and degradation of natural habitats. It lives in areas of sub-Saharan Africa and is characterized by its large size, strong beak, and reliance on foraging for food on the ground.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Comments (0)