GoKawiilArtis Zoo hornbill fitted with two 3D-printed titanium beak prostheses
A southern ground hornbill at Artis Zoo in Amsterdam, whose beak had broken into two stumps, has received 3D-printed titanium prostheses replacing both the upper and lower beak. The devices were designed using CT scans and the bird's remaining beak fragments, manufactured by Amnovis, and surgically fitted by veterinary surgeons from Utrecht University. The bird began using the new beak the same day, picked up a mouse the next morning, and started preening within days.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Artis says this is believed to be the first case worldwide of both beak halves being restored this way, suggesting the technique could offer a template for treating similarly injured birds elsewhere. The zoo notes that if the prostheses continue functioning well long-term, the approach could expand what's possible in veterinary medicine, though researchers say they still need to monitor the bird's recovery before drawing firmer conclusions.
- A southern ground hornbill at Artis Zoo received 3D-printed titanium replacements for both the upper and lower parts of its broken beak.
- The bird used the new beak within a day of surgery, picking up food and later preening its feathers.
- Zoo officials call it the first known case of restoring both beak halves this way, and say long-term success could influence future veterinary treatments.
Source: nltimes.nl, 2026-10-15
Published there as: “Southern ground hornbill gets 3D printed beak prostheses at Artis Zoo”
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