Pets

Stonepounder

(4,033 posts) Tue Dec 3, 2019, 02:52 AM Dec 2019

Injured Tortoise Who Lost Shell In Fire Receives Worlds First 3D-Printed Shell

Injured Tortoise Who Lost Shell In Fire Receives Worlds First 3D-Printed Shell

The unique story of one tortoise affected by fire is inspiring new ways of caring for injured and rehabilitating animals.

All tortoises share the unique anatomical feature of a shell. The shell has two parts, the carapace, and the plastron, and is relied upon for protection from predators, hunters, and the environment. This tortoise was found close to death by veterinarian surgeon Dr. Rodrigo Rabello, nicked name Thor after a bush fire completely destroyed its protective covering.

She has lived through a terrible fire, and consequently, she had suffered pneumonia, hunger for 45 days, near-death and most obviously, lost 85% of her protective shell. The tortoise was therefore named Freddy, after the fire-damaged character Freddy Krueger, of Nightmare on Elm Street fame. Since a damaged shell cannot be regrown, Freddy faced a life of long term disability without her hard outer shell. Yet, the ‘Animal Avengers’, a self-named group of volunteers and specialists from Brazil, consisting of Dr. Rabello and three other vets, a dental surgeon, and a 3D designer, were determined to change that.

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Although Freddy required a short operation to attach the shell, today, she has regained full mobility under her new hull. She appears like any other tortoise and is leading a happy life in her home with one of the Animal Avengers, veterinarian Dr. Rodrigo Rabello. A YouTube video reveals the assembling of the shell, which is the first-ever fully prosthetic tortoiseshell, despite being a low-cost solution to improving animal function, having a material cost of $136.

Well worth a look at the link below for more details and some amazing pics of Freddy before and after:

https://www.healthyfoodhouse.com/injured-tortoise-who-lost-shell-in-fire-receives-worlds-first-3d-printed-shell/