
As soon as a computer signals a print, the material is first melted and is then laid down in layers which then solidifies quickly to create the model. 3D technology has now opened up new ways of preparing models for new technical innovations. 3D technology has now opened up new ways of preparing models for new technical innovations. It can produce toys, parts of automobiles, miniature models and countless of other types of things. The same can be used in a very unorthodox purpose which is creating prosthetics for missing body structures of animals.
Written by Suvam Kanungo, MSc. Zoology (4th Sem), SoAS, Dept of Zoology
3D printing process uses a CAD or computer generated model to create three dimensional objects. It does not require any moulds and is quite cheaper than making models compared to conventional methods. These 3D models are basically created by using small grains of variety of materials (eg. plastic, carbon fiber etc) . As soon as a computer signals a print, the material is first melted and is then laid down in layers which then solidifies quickly to create the model. 3D technology has now opened up new ways of preparing models for new technical innovations. It can produce toys, parts of automobiles, miniature models and countless of other types of things. The same can be used in a very unorthodox purpose which is creating prosthetics for missing body structures of animals. It can hence serve as an important tool in animal health and thus conservation as well. Once a model is created by using any of the available softwares it can be saved as a file and can be accessed and printed any time we want. Another important advantage is that it can make objects with accurate measurements.
Not many people care about animals receiving prosthetics. Animals who are missing important body parts are often euthanized .But now that we have 3D printing technology we can design prosthetics that closely mimic true body parts. This shall save animal lives in an ethical point of view .It can give a smile to both owners of pets and animals themselves. Again it is a promising perspective regarding conservation because even if we can save a single animal of a species which has a low count in the wild we can actually save the declining species population. Let us consider a female Great Indian Bustard or a Javan Rhino which is about to lay or give birth has lost a body part( for eg.Bustard losing a part of a beak).Now we can’t afford to lose the animal since it species population has already declined .Here prosthetics can come to the rescue and specially 3D printing can help.

Till date we have only handful recorded cases of animals receiving prosthetics by 3D printing. Although it is quite cheap, easily available ,quite flexible regarding its utility(can be used to design various models) but its use in the animal prosthetic technology field has not been given much importance. A model once designed in a computer can be shared with other conservation centres and veterinary hospitals in need .For the same body parts of animals of same species or closely related species we need to make small modifications depending on the size of the receiver animal and the basic design once done shall remain the same.
Among few successful applications of the technology we have beaks of various birds,shells of tortoise , tails of crocodiles, and limbs of various animals. Only in rare cases these animals can be released back into the wild but it still can make a great difference since we can use them for breeding purposes. Few pictures of such successful applications in prosthetics has been given below.
Photos: www.indiatimes.com, www.sciencealert.com