Flamingo in Brazilian zoo gets a new leg to stand on _ an artificial one

Veterinarians place a specially-made prosthetic leg on a Chilean flamingo at a zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil, Tuesday, June 23, 2015. The flamingo's left leg was partially amputated a month ago to halt an infection. Veterinarian Andre Costa says the bird wouldn’t have survived with just one leg. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) (The Associated Press)

A zoo veterinarian uses an X-ray to show the amputated limb of a flamingo, and prosthetic leg, on a computer screen at a zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil, Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Veterinarian Andre Costa who performed the amputation to halt an infection that would of killed the bird, decided to give the 7-inch carbon limb a try. He says the bird wouldn’t have survived with just one leg. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) (The Associated Press)

A Chilean flamingo eats while standing with the help of a specially-made prosthetic leg, at a zoo in Sorocaba, Brazil, Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Zookeepers in southeastern Brazil say they think it’s 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) (The Associated Press)

A pink flamingo in Brazil has gotten a new leg to stand on — an artificial one.

Zookeepers at a zoo in southeastern Brazil say this week they think 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 halt 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 one-leg standing pose.