Overview
- A southern ground hornbill at Artis Zoo received two custom 3D‑printed beak parts that replace both the upper and lower broken sections, a procedure the zoo says is believed to be the first of its kind worldwide.
- The prostheses were designed from CT scans and preserved fragments of the bird’s original beak, with plastic 3D‑printed sections developed at UMC Utrecht and titanium fixation parts manufactured by Amnovis.
- Veterinary surgeons from Utrecht University implanted the screw‑secured, removable prostheses in collaboration with Artis Zoo specialists, and the bird began using them on the day of surgery and picked up a small mouse independently the next morning.
- The team has manufactured spare plastic parts in case of damage and has a plan to remove or replace components if needed, and they will continue close clinical and behavioral monitoring of the bird and its partner.
- Researchers plan to publish the case so other veterinarians can evaluate whether the CT‑guided, 3D‑printed and titanium‑fixed approach can be adapted for other injured birds and improve long‑term quality of life.