Koala named Triumph climbs and runs thanks to prosthetic foot | Trending - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Koala named Triumph climbs and runs thanks to prosthetic foot

Reuters |
Feb 22, 2021 07:54 PM IST

Veterinarian nurse Marley Christian had rescued the joey koala in northern New South Wales in 2017, after she found him next to his dying mother with only three feet and a protruding bone in place of the fourth.

Triumph, a male koala born without a foot, has been climbing and running since he was fitted with a prosthetic foot made by a neighbourhood dentist, an Australian wildlife carer said on Monday.

A koala with a prosthetic foot lies in a tree in Lismore, Australia February 22, 2021 in this still image taken from a video. (REUTERS)
A koala with a prosthetic foot lies in a tree in Lismore, Australia February 22, 2021 in this still image taken from a video. (REUTERS)

Veterinarian nurse Marley Christian had rescued the joey koala in northern New South Wales in 2017, after she found him next to his dying mother with only three feet and a protruding bone in place of the fourth.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"Once I put the little boot on him and he did this little jump, then he was running around and climbing, I actually cried," she said, explaining how Triumph became a whole new koala once the prosthesis was attached.

"It's the best thing that ever happened, I would do absolutely anything for this boy."

Christian had become Triumph's primary carer at the Friends of the Koala centre in Lismore, a town 136km (84.51 miles) south of Brisbane, while searching for a solution to his birth defect.

A U.S. company specialising in animal prosthesis tried to create a foot for Triumph, but was unsuccessful after several attempts.

Eventually Christian found an answer closer to home. Dental prosthetist Jon Doulman had heard of Triumph's dilemma and volunteered to take on the case.

The resulting prosthetic is pink, with a velcro strap to help keep it on Triumph's leg and a tread on the bottom to help the marsupial grip while walking and climbing.

"It was certainly different," Doulman said. "It required a bit of lateral thinking in so far as coming up with the design ... but it was a great feeling to be able to help him."    

Doulman is currently in the process of improving his design for Triumph, but said that the koala "seems to be quite comfortable wearing it."

Triumph, who is nearly five years old, will need to spend the rest of his life in captivity, most likely under Christian's care.


Unveiling 'Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch Now!

Get Latest Updates on Trending News Viral Video, Photos from India and around the world
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On