Preparation and Attachment of a Prosthetic Bill in a White Stork

Abstract

A prosthesis was made of dental acrylic resin for a male white stork, Ciconia ciconia boyciana, which had 2/3 of its upper bill broken by an accident in a cage. Many attempts had been done in vain to repair the bill. Firstly, 4-META (4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride) with TBB-O as a catalyst was used as adhesive, but the substitute came off 24 days later because of the natural growing of the bill. Finally, the artificial bill was tied with a stainless steel wire covered with a silicone gum tube through the nostrils with satisfactory results.