In addition to connecting people and wildlife, the dedicated staff at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium work hard every day for all 10,000 animals in our care, no matter how big or small. Sometimes that care requires out-of-the-box thinking and action!
Meet ODot, a 9-year-old female East African Grey Crowned Crane living at the Zoo’s Heart of Africa region with a unique name… and an even more unique story.
When ODot and her sibling were both chicks, their care team had a very hard time telling them apart and noticed one differing trait… One had a dot on her head while the other did not. This led to the pair being given the creative names “Dot” and “No Dot,” the latter of which was shortened to “ODot” over time.
A few years ago, ODot fractured her left radius and ulna, leaving her left elbow with reduced range of motion. Because she has a more limited use of her left wing, she has repeatedly injured that area (the part somewhat equivalent to a human’s wrist) by unintentionally bumping it against objects. This has produced a large callus and scab that occasionally breaks open and requires treatment. Our Animal Health staff has been working on getting ODot’s wing to heal for over a year and a half, and, despite their actions, ODot’s very thin skin in that area has resulted in frequent abrasions, keeping the wound from healing completely.
Because ODot is living in human care, her injury is not life-threatening. However, our Animal Health team’s goal is always to not only allow an animal to survive, but to ensure a great quality of life as well. In order to find a way to protect ODot’s wing for long enough to allow it to heal, our Animal Health and Animal Care staff got creative.
After some brainstorming, the Heart of Africa team came up with a great idea: A “Wing Cap.” This prosthetic would be created with plastics and 3-D printing technology, providing a customized fit for ODot’s unique wing. The prosthetic would also wrap down the sides of the wing to ensure it stays in place. Dr. Emily Vincent, the Zoo’s veterinary resident, discussed the project with her husband, an engineer experienced with 3-D printing, and he quickly got to work.
“The wing cap will improve ODot’s quality of life immeasurably – for months now, we have been managing ODot’s open carpal abrasion with bandages which means that she has had to stay inside,” said Dr. Priya Bapodra-Villaverde, Senior Veterinarian for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. “With a healed wound and the wing cap in place to prevent future trauma, she can go back to being on the savanna with the all of the other cranes, which I’m sure she has missed very much.”
ODot was recently fitted for this device and has since been wearing it. Because she is a very clever bird, she has managed to take the wing cap off once. However, after some more modifications, the wing cap has stayed on and is proving to work as designed.
This unique collaboration is working to provide ODot with the best quality of life possible. We look forward to watching her continue to heal and thrive with the continued love and support from both our Animal Care and Animal Health teams.
Look for ODot in our Heart of Africa region during your next visit to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium!
April 2023 Update
Odot is now living with four other cranes AND guinea fowl! She is doing great and will be viewable on the savanna in Heart of Africa in late April.
June 2023 Update
Have you seen Odot this summer? She's living life to the fullest on the savanna within the Heart of Africa region at the Zoo.
