Dr. Rodrigo Rabello found a female turtle in terrible condition after it survived a forest fire. He decided to try and cure the creature, The Huffington Post reported.
Rabello belongs to a Sao Paulo-based volunteer team called Animal Avengers, which consists of three veterinarians, a graphic designer and a surgeon-dentist.
In order to construct a new shell for the tortoise, the group first took multiple photos of Fred from different angles and compared them to pictures of a healthy turtle.
When a 3D model was created, the team printed out four separate pieces from a corn-based plastic, which afterwards were assembled on Fred. A local artist Yuri Caldera then painted the shell in natural colors.
This is the first prosthetic of a 3D shell in the world, according to Rabello, and a major step forward in veterinary medicine.
"It's a total satisfaction, we'll always strain to save a life, no matter whose," the doctor stressed.
Fred now reportedly lives with Rabello and is feeling well.
