AssetID: 53193807
Headline: Disabled Penguin Gets Leg Up With 3D-Printed Shoes!
Caption: A disabled penguin named Larkin now has a spring in her step thanks to her new 3D-printed boots! Seven-month-old African penguin Larkin, a resident of Cincinnati Zoo, had the shoes made to help with a unique foot condition that made her tendon slip out. Head keeper of birds Rickey Kinley and his team noticed Larkin was having trouble walking. So they made her special boots made from a material that when heated could be fitted to the exact imprint of the penguin foot. Knowing that the general shoe idea worked, the bird team made a wish list of modifications that would improve the design and make it more useful for a variety of movements, including swimming. Enter the world of 3D printing. The enrichment team designed custom-made shoes that they hope will keep Larkin’s tendon from slipping out of place. “Larkin stood still quite well during the scanning process, so the team has some good images to work with,” said Kinley. “Our primary goal is always the well-being of the animals in our care. In this instance, 3D printing technology is providing us with a unique opportunity to address a specific health concern in an innovative and effective way”. He added: “For now, the shoes’ only purpose is to provide corrective support. If she continues to need them, we may put more effort into making them stylish”.
Keywords: Disabled,Penguin,Leg Up,3D-Printed,Shoes,Larkin,step,African,resident,Cincinnati Zoo,condition,birds,imprint,foot,design,movements,swimming,animals,bird,natural world
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