To The Rescue
Costa Rican toucan (credit: Wilikcommons)
Teenagers are often 'out of control' with raging hormones, socially awkward, subject to peer pressure, and brains not fully developed to think through consequences of actions.
An abusive act by several Costa Rican kids showed their immaturity and lack of compassion for a toucan, one of the country's most iconic wildlife species. Using a stick to beat the defenseless bird, the kids broke off the upper portion of its colorful beak used not only in feeding but also for defense, vocalizations, and potentially attracting a mate. This individual act gained widespread attention after BBC coverage. The injured toucan was rescued and sent to the Rescate Animal Zoo, a center for rehabilitation in Costa Rica's capital, San Jose.
Injured Toucan (credit: BBC)
Besides the efforts of the center's vets, companies and individuals offered their support in unique ways. Two new approaches were employed for a longer term recovery. An international crowd-sourcing campaign raised funds to help pay for the birds rehab, to construct an artificial bill, and support the Center in its ongoing operations. A video shows how cutting-edge 3D Printing was to be used for the construction of an artificial prosthetic beak. The prosthesis was attached that allowed the toucan to eat properly once again. The injured bird could not be released back to its forest habitat but will be used for captive breeding to increase future wild populations.
The injured toucan is a 'poster child' for the need to provide better education in environmental responsibility. Costa Rica, like many other countries, lacks a law protecting animals from abuse so the teenagers were not charged. Perhaps they should have been assigned to perform service work at the rescue center to gain some compassion for wildlife. WHB