India, Oct. 17 -- An injured southern ground hornbill at Artis Zoo in Amsterdam has received two custom-made, 3D-printed prostheses to replace the broken upper and lower parts of its beak. In what is believed to be a world-first procedure, the bird began using its new beak on the day of surgery.

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According to a report by NL Times, the innovative treatment involved specialists from several Dutch institutions.

"As far as is known, this is the first time in the world both parts of a bird's beak have been restored in this way," Artis said in a statement.

"A beak is essential to a bird," the zoo said.

Southern ground hornbills rely heavi...