TORONTO – An eight-month-old duck that was born with a backwards foot finally took his first ‘normal’ steps over the weekend, thanks to 3D printing technology.
Buttercup the duck was off to a running start Sunday, wearing his new 3D-printed silicon foot for the first time, to the delight of his caretakers at Feathered Angels Waterfowl Sanctuary in Tennessee.
The duck, born in a high school biology lab last November, had his foot amputated in February due to the deformity – leaving him with what was lovingly described as a ‘peg leg.’
But sanctuary owner and software engineer Mike Garey wasn’t satisfied with the idea of Buttercup going through life with a hobble and started looking into the possibility of a 3D printed replacement limb, according to a report by CNET.
Read More: How does 3D printing work?
3D printing company Novacopy donated a mold – an exact replica of Buttercup’s sister Minnie’s left foot – used to cast a silicon foot that would be attached to Buttercup’s leg by a silicon sock.
The team received the foot mold in March and began sampling types of silicon to make the sock and foot.
Buttercup was finally fitted with the finished product on Sunday and, as shown in a YouTube video of his first steps, he was immediately able to walk comfortably on the new foot.
The success of Buttercup’s first steps was felt by many on social media.
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Garey and the Feathered Angels team shared the duck’s journey on a Facebook page called “Buttercup Gets a New High Tech Foot,” where the duck gained a fan following and over 11,000 likes.
The team even recorded all of Buttercup’s developments, from his surgery day to the day he finished healing, using Facebook’s milestone feature.
A video posted to the group’s page on Monday shows Buttercup getting used to his new foot, walking through a grass field. The video, which has over 700 likes on Facebook, is filled with comments and well-wishes from users all over the world.
According to Buttercup’s Facebook page, the new foot will take a bit of getting used to as Buttercup’s muscles adjust to fitting.
You can follow Buttercup’s journey and progress through his Facebook page.
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