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Flamingo in Brazilian zoo gets a new leg to stand on — an artificial one

SOROCABA, Brazil – A pink flamingo in Brazil has gotten a new leg to stand on — an artificial one.

Zookeepers at a zoo in southeastern Brazil say this week they think it’s the first time a flamingo has used a prosthetic leg.

The 6-year-old Chilean flamingo at the Sorocaba zoo fractured his left leg a month ago. It was partially amputated to halt an infection from killing the bird.

Veterinarian Andre Costa performed the amputation. He says the bird wouldn’t have survived with just one leg.

Costa decided to give the artificial leg a try. The 7-inch carbon limb was donated by a local prosthesis manufacturer.

Within days the flamingo was adjusting nicely to his new leg — even tucking it under his body to make the flamingo’s classic one-leg standing pose.

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