This African Bird Got A 3D-Printed Beak

Karl the Abyssinian ground hornbill got a second chance at health, thanks to 3D printing.

Karl needed a new lower beak, as his was worn down from use. The African bird's lack of teeth make the beak vital for eating, so Karl's bad beak could have resulted in real harm.

The 3D-printed beak, which was developed at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., was made by scanning a bird's skull for use as a template. From there, Karl's measurements were taken and the prosthetic was molded through months of trial and error. The beak was then glued and sanded down.

Thanks to museum's work on the beak, Karl is now able to enjoy his favorite rodent meals. That's good news for him — but maybe bad news for the rodents.