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