As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Thursday 25 February 2016

3D-printed titanium beak gives Brazilian macaw Gigi chance to crunch food for first time

A macaw with a deformed beak has been rescued from captivity and given a new 3D titanium prosthesis during delicate surgery in Brazil.

Life with a shorter-than-normal beak meant the bird could not eat solid foods properly.


The macaw, named Gigi, was operated on at the CETAS Unimonte animal research, training and rehabilitation centre in San Paulo by a team of four veterinarians.

The new beak was designed by professor and 3D designer Cícero Moraes who shared photos of the process on his personal Facebook page.

He dubbed the surgery an "historic moment", saying it was the first time a macaw had received a prosthetic 3D-printed beak.

The centre alluded in a Facebook post to the fact Gigi was rescued because she was involved in the illegal exotic birds trade.

The research centre's veterinarians released photos and videos of Gigi living life with her new beak after the successful surgery.


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