A southern ground hornbill at Artis Zoo in Amsterdam has undergone a pioneering medical procedure to replace the broken upper and lower parts of its beak. The bird, which had been managing with two remaining stumps but faced significant restrictions in its daily behavior, received two 3D-printed prostheses. According to Artis Zoo, this marks the first time in the world that both parts of a bird's beak have been restored using this specific method. The bird began using the new beak on the day of the surgery and was observed independently picking up food and preening its feathers within days.

A southern ground hornbill before its beak prostheses were attached.
The southern ground hornbill prior to receiving its 3D-printed beak prostheses.nltimes.nl

The bird had been managing with two remaining stumps but faced significant restrictions in its daily behavior.

A southern ground hornbill with a 3D-printed beak at Artis Zoo.
The southern ground hornbill displaying its new 3D-printed beak at Artis Zoo.nltimes.nl

The bird began using the new beak on the day of the surgery and was observed independently picking up food and preening its feathers within days.

The procedure was a multi-institutional collaboration involving Artis Zoo, Utrecht University’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UMC Utrecht, and the company Amnovis. To ensure a precise fit, the team utilized a CT scan and preserved sections of the bird's original beak. Joëll Magré of UMC Utrecht developed the 3D-printed beak sections based on this data, while Amnovis manufactured the necessary titanium components. The treatment plan was developed by Artis veterinarian Martine van Zijl Langhout and avian specialist Yvonne van Zeeland, with the surgery performed by veterinary surgeons Bjorn Meij and Lucinda van Stee.

Veterinary surgeons attaching 3D-printed beak prostheses to a southern ground hornbill.
Veterinary surgeons Bjorn Meij and Lucinda van Stee attaching the 3D-printed beak prostheses to the hornbill.nltimes.nl

The surgery was performed by veterinary surgeons Bjorn Meij and Lucinda van Stee as part of a multi-institutional collaboration.

While the immediate results have been successful, researchers are continuing to monitor the hornbill's recovery to ensure the prostheses remain functional over the long term. The project represents a significant milestone in veterinary medicine, potentially opening new possibilities for treating avian injuries. However, the long-term durability of 3D-printed titanium components in a wild-type bird's daily activities—such as foraging and feather maintenance—remains an area of ongoing observation. The success of this specific case serves as a proof of concept for using customized 3D-printed implants to restore essential sensory and motor functions in exotic wildlife.