Flamingo gets a new leg to stand on
A Chilean pink flamingo living in Brazil was given a specially-made prosthesis in what zookeepers believe is the first such case in the world, July 1, 2015. The six-year-old flamingo fractured his left leg a month ago, resulting in the bottom portion of his leg needing to be amputated to prevent an infection.
The flamingo is seen here with his new prosthesis at Sorocaba Zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil.
Flamingo prosthesis
The X-ray image of a flamingo's fractured leg (right) is pictured at Sorocaba Zoo, July 1, 2015. It's not known how the bird broke his leg, but it was surmised that, "perhaps one the clumsy pelicans that share the enclosure crashed into him or he was attacked by one of the crowned cranes, who are very aggressive and territorial," according to the zoo's veterinarian, Andre Costa.
Flamingo prosthesis
A veterinarian uses an X-ray to show the amputated limb of a flamingo, and prosthetic leg, on a computer screen at a zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil, June 23, 2015.
Veterinarian Andre Costa, who performed the amputation to halt an infection that would have killed the bird, made the decision to give the bird a prosthetic leg. He said the bird wouldn't have survived with just one leg.
Flamingo prosthesis
A zoo veterinarian plays with a Chilean flamingo at the zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil.
This six-year-old flamingo fractured his left leg one month ago and it was partially amputated to halt an infection.
Flamingo prosthesis
Parts of a specially-made prosthesis is seen at Sorocaba Zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil, July 1, 2015.
The seven-inch carbon limb, donated by a local prosthesis manufacturer, was specially made for the Chilean flamingo.
Flamingo prosthesis
A zookeeper holds the head of a flamingo, which had his leg amputated, at Sorocaba Zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil, July 1, 2015.
Flamingo prosthesis
Veterinarians and a zookeeper hold down a flamingo to attach a prosthesis, after the bird had his leg amputated, at Sorocaba Zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil, July 1, 2015.
Flamingo prosthesis
A zookeeper holds down a flamingo, which had his leg amputated, to provide it with a prosthesis at Sorocaba Zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil, July 1, 2015.
Flamingo prosthesis
Chilean pink flamingos are seen at Sorocaba Zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil, July 1, 2015.
Flamingo prosthesis
Veterinarians and a zookeeper hold down a flamingo while they put a prosthesis on his amputated leg, at Sorocaba Zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil, July 1, 2015.
Flamingo prosthesis
A zookeeper helps a flamingo, which had its leg amputated, to walk at Sorocaba Zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil, July 1, 2015.
The flamingo will be kept apart from the other 28 flamingos at the zoo and will be gradually reintroduced to the flock.
Flamingo prosthesis
A flamingo walks with his new prosthesis at Sorocaba Zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil, July 1, 2015.
Flamingo prosthesis
A Chilean flamingo eats while standing with the help of a specially-made prosthetic leg, at a zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil, June 23, 2015.
Flamingo prosthesis
A flamingo walks, aided by his new prosthesis, at Sorocaba Zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil, July 1, 2015.