After a terrible injury, a toucan named Grecia has a new beak. The nylon prosthesis, or artificial body part, is glued to the bird’s broken beak.
When locals found Grecia in Costa Rica in 2015, she was in bad shape. A group of teens had attacked her, hacking off part of her beak. The bird was taken to a wildlife sanctuary called Zoo Ave.
A toucan needs its beak to eat and defend itself, says Magalie Quesada of Zoo Ave. When Grecia’s story spread, a U.S. company volunteered to build her a prosthesis. Since receiving her new beak this past August, Grecia can once again feed and clean herself. “Grecia is very happy,” says Quesada.