Koala receives world-first prosthetic foot

Reuters Videos
4 年前

This koala is the world's first to get a prosthetic foot

Location: Lismore, Australia

(SOUNDBITE) (English) VET NURSE, MARLEY CHRISTIAN, SAYING:"Once I put the little boot on him and he did this little jump, then he was running around and climbing, I actually cried. It's the best thing that ever happened, and like I would do absolutely anything for this boy, he's really worth it."

Triumph was born without a right foot

and was rescued in 2017 in northern New South Wales

There was a surprising creator behind Triumph's new foot ...

a local dental prosthetist

(SOUNDBITE) (English) DENTAL PROSTHETIST, JON DOULMAN, SAYING: "I thought to myself, surely I can have a go at manufacturing something, because that's what I do, I make dentures for people [...] He's very lucky that he's got a little bulge at the bottom of his leg, which is probably the beginning of his ankle, so this actually fits over that little bulge and the velcro holds it on. It's got a bit of tread on the bottom for walking around and doing a bit of climbing, and it's quite comfortable for him. So, it seems to be working at the moment, he wears it most days."

(SOUNDBITE) (English) VET NURSE, MARLEY CHRISTIAN, SAYING: "I was sceptical but jeez, he came through with the goods. But no, you wouldn't think your local dentist would be the one to, yeah, help save Triumph."