Injured tortoise given 3D printed shell

A tortoise has been given a 3D printed prosthetic shell to protect her own, as she suffers from a painful disease which has caused it to wear away.

Cleopatra, a leopard tortoise who was taken in by Canyon Critters Reptile Rescue in Colorado, suffers from a metabolic bone disease known as pyramiding, or peaking. It is caused by poor nutrition, and means her shell has grown in in erratically raised sections, instead of smoothly.

As tortoises play and mate by clambering on top of each other, Cleopatra's delicate shell became damaged and worn in places, leaving her susceptible to infections, reported the Huffington Post.

Roger Henry, a Colorado Technical University student, designed the tortoise a prosthetic shell, and 3D printed it with assistance from The 3D Printing Store in Denver.

"I heard this tortoise was damaged, needed some help and it seemed like the right thing to do," Mr Henry told the Denver Post. "We basically told the software that this is a piece of cloth. Therefore, drape it onto the tortoise."

^{Canyon Critters Reptile Rescue owner Nico Novelli and Cleopatra the tortoise. [RJ Sangosti via Getty Images]}

The lightweight prosthetic shell attaches using velcro, and will only need to be worn when Cleopatra is around other tortoises. Her shell is expected to regrow within a couple of years thanks to the optimum temperature and a diet including dandelions and cactus.

Cleopatra is believed to be in her teenage years, and could live until well into her eighties, growing up to three times her current size, meaning she's likely to require new plastic shells in the next few years.

^{Cleopatra's shell will eventually regrow now she is eating a nutritious diet [RJ Sangosti via Getty Images]}