A fire-damaged Brazilian tortoise is being given a new lease on life after it was provided with a new 3D printed shell.

A team of specialists, including four veterinarians, a dental surgeon, and a 3D designer, took advantage of 3D printing technology to create a new shell for “Freddy” after 85 percent of her original shell was burned in a forest fire.

Referencing pictures of a tortoises shell, designer Cicero Moraes was able to recreate the shell.

“I [then] reconstructed a 3D computer imaging model of the complete shell using the tortoise’s exact measurements,” he told the Daily Mail.

9News reports:

The prosthesis, made of four interlocking pieces from corn-derived plastic, were then painted and assembled on the turtle’s back, restoring her to her former appearance.

 

Freddy – named after the fire-damaged character Freddy Krueger, of Nightmare on Elm Street fame – has since gone on to live in the care of Animal Avenger veterinarian Dr Rodrigo Rabello.

 

Her condition marks a significant improvement from when she was first found in a near-death state in 2015.

 

The Animal Avengers have previously provided their specialised 3D printing service for a range of other animals.

 

Their contributions include artificial beaks for toucans, a parrot and a goose.

Photo credit: GC Noticias.