Chilean flamingo recovers with custom brace at Caldwell Zoo

A Chilean flamingo named Queenie at Tyler’s Caldwell Zoo in Texas is recovering from a soft tissue injury to his ankle joint with the help of a custom-built brace, WRAL reported. The injury occurred when Queenie got spooked and tore ligaments in his ankle while on exhibit, according to NBC12.

Bird Department Supervisor Nichole Moore said keepers noticed Queenie lagging behind his flock, prompting intervention. The injury first appeared in 2021, and medication alone did not fully resolve the problem, so the zoo collaborated with orthopedist Ben Guenther, who typically creates braces and prosthetics for people, to design a brace for Queenie, Live 5 WCSC reported.

Moore explained that flamingos use their legs not only for walking but also to stir up food for filtering, making leg function especially important. The brace provides joint support that Queenie’s leg cannot provide on its own and will be worn for life, with weekly checks for swelling or irritation, according to Atlanta News First.

Since adapting to the brace, Queenie has shown significant improvement, putting full weight on the injured leg and rejoining activities with the flock such as bathing and running around, NBC12 noted. There is currently no timeline for when Queenie will fully rejoin the rest of the flock, Live 5 WCSC added.