Cute penguins and a 3D printed beak for the unlucky ward of the Warsaw Zoo
Cute penguins and a 3D printed beak for the unlucky ward of the Warsaw Zoo

Video: Cute penguins and a 3D printed beak for the unlucky ward of the Warsaw Zoo

Video: Cute penguins and a 3D printed beak for the unlucky ward of the Warsaw Zoo
Video: Inside A Famous San Francisco Home That's Been Abandoned | Hidden Gems | Architectural Digest - YouTube 2024, November
Anonim
African penguins rescued from the Cape Town oil spill huddled to keep warm
African penguins rescued from the Cape Town oil spill huddled to keep warm

3D printing, being a relatively new technology, is rapidly gaining popularity and is increasingly involved in the creation of a wide variety of creative projects. But with its help, you can not only create fanciful art objects, but also really save the life of a living creature.

Maybe he had a fight with a friend, or maybe he fell unsuccessfully, the rangers do not know for sure, but four weeks ago one of the African penguins of the Warsaw Zoo managed to break his beak, damaging the lower part so badly that now the unfortunate bird can neither eat nor clean the feathers yourself. Zoo workers say the penguin's chances of survival are slim in its current state. But the accidental intervention of a 3D printer distributor would likely save his life.

In natural conditions, the habitat of African penguins is the coast of South Africa and Namibia and the nearby islands in the area of the cold Benguela Current
In natural conditions, the habitat of African penguins is the coast of South Africa and Namibia and the nearby islands in the area of the cold Benguela Current

“We came to the zoo just to ask if they would be interested in any of our 3D technologies, and at first we knew nothing about the bird. - Bartek Jarkiewicz from MTT Polska, responsible for the penguin beak restoration project, told the Telegraph newspaper. "Then they said they had a penguin that needed help and asked if we could make a new beak for it."

Penguins don't forget or forgive
Penguins don't forget or forgive

To return the victim to a normal life, veterinarians have teamed up with designers from Omni 3D (a Polish printer manufacturer). The team first took a series of test 3D scans of the dead penguin's beak from 12 different angles in order to determine the shape and size of the beak. Then an Omni3D specialist built a 3D model of a beak that would fit the injured bird.

African penguin settles in Krasnoyarsk flora and fauna park
African penguin settles in Krasnoyarsk flora and fauna park

The beak itself should be printed within a week using high-tech eco-plastic. In order to put the beak in place, a complex operation will be required, which will be performed under general anesthesia. Veterinarians carefully grind off the remnants of the beak in order to install a prosthesis on it. In case the first prosthesis falls off or becomes unusable, MTT Polska specialists will pre-print the beak in several different materials.

Penguins in the water can reach speeds of up to 20 km / h, dive deeper than 100 m and hold their breath for 2-3 minutes
Penguins in the water can reach speeds of up to 20 km / h, dive deeper than 100 m and hold their breath for 2-3 minutes

Meanwhile, the hapless penguin is being hand-fed. However, if the operation is successful, he will soon be able to happily devour his herring in the company of furry friends. We wish him good luck and complete recovery.

African (or spectacled) penguins on the beach
African (or spectacled) penguins on the beach

In addition to a medical prosthesis, on a 3D printer, if desired, you can print a cuckoo clock or "Sunflowers" by Van Gogh.

Recommended: