Injured Hornbill Recovers After Historic Beak Surgery in Netherlands

Veterinarians at ARTIS zoo in the Netherlands have fitted a southern hornbill with custom 3D-printed prosthetics for both its upper and lower beaks, Yahoo reported. ARTIS collaborated with the veterinary medicine faculty at Utrecht University to perform the pioneering surgery after the bird lost the tips of both beaks. [1]

To reconstruct the animal's unique anatomy for a precise fit, researchers utilized computed tomography scans alongside original beak fragments, according to Yahoo. Although scientists initially worried that the hornbill might reject the new structure because it lacks the sensation of its original beak, ARTIS shared that the bird began using its new prosthetic that very same afternoon. [1]

A prosthesis is an artificial medical device designed to replace a missing body part lost through trauma, disease, or congenital conditions. As HEROIC BREAKING NEWS reported earlier, the injured hornbill is the first bird in the world to receive a dual upper and lower 3D-printed beak prosthesis, which restored its ability to feed independently after the initial injury prevented proper self-care. [3][6][7]