A rescued turtle seriously injured on the coast of the town of Cervia, in the region of Emilia Romagna and Lombardy, is in the recovery process after having its hull reconstructed with a 3D printer.
The initiative was made possible thanks to the partnership between the Cattolica Aquarium and the Cestha sea turtle recovery center in Marina di Ravenna, in collaboration with the digital company Artificio.
Baptized Ash, the young sea turtle of the species “Caretta Caretta” was found with a deep cut on her carapace, which also compromised a lung and partial use of her rear fins.
Because of the injuries, six artificial shells were created using laser scanner and 3D printing technology. “These hulls, fixed with epoxy glue, represented an innovative solution. The models have evolved over time, to adapt to the turtle's growth, the progressive healing of the wound and the increased ergonomics required”, explains a note.
After the “surgery”, Cenere needs to regain her mobility in a large aquarium with 80 thousand liters of seawater. “The depth and size of the tank will play a crucial role in improving mobility”, explains Sara Segati, scientific manager at Cestha, remembering that “she will do the rest, because she has already shown herself to be courageous, tenacious and has undergone 11 surgeries”. (Handle)
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