Rode Gomes, a zoo veterinarian, visits with a Chilean flamingo using a specially-made prosthetic leg, at a zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil, Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Zookeepers in southeastern Brazil say they think its the first time a flamingo has used a prosthetic leg. The 7-inch carbon limb was donated by a local prosthesis manufacturer. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine)
SOROCABA, Brazil (AP) – A pink flamingo in Brazil has a new leg to stand on – an artificial one.
Zookeepers at a zoo in southeastern Brazil said this week they believe it's the first time a flamingo has used a prosthetic leg.
The 6-year-old Chilean flamingo at the Sorocaba zoo fractured his left leg a month ago. It was partially amputated to prevent an infection from killing the bird.
Veterinarian Andre Costa performed the amputation. He says the bird wouldn't have survived with just one leg.
Costa decided to give the artificial leg a try. The 7-inch carbon limb was donated by a local prosthesis manufacturer.
Within days the flamingo was adjusting nicely to his new leg — even tucking it under his body to make the flamingo's classic standing one-leg pose.
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