Toucan who lost beak in captivity eats with new 3D-printed pecker

A toucan that lost part its upper beak – and thus the ability to eat – has been given a replacement via a 3D printer.

Federal Police found her at an animal fair in Rio de Janeiro and took her to the Free Flight Institute for help.

‘We were feeding her fruit and she was ignoring the new beak.

Taciana said toucans usually change hands legally for around £2,500, but Tieta would now be given to a zoo or an animal sanctuary.

A toucan whose beak was broken in half while being smuggled has been given a new 3D-printed one.

When you’re a toucan, you need your beak. According to the BBC, the beak took three months to design. The new beak part is made of a plastic coated in nail polish with a sealant polymer created from the castor oil plant applied on top of it.

The surgery only took 40 minutes and now Tieta is back eating maggots and cockroaches.

Researchers hope that Tieta will be able to have chicks and feed them with the beak but unfortunately she won’t be able to be returned to the wild.

However, she added that they were certain the bird had been abused. “But, she will have a more autonomous life”.