A Lego ‘Wheelchair’ Lets This Tiny Tortoise Walk Again

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.takepart.com/video/2014/12/11/lego-wheelchair-lets-tiny-tortoise-walk-again?cmpid=tpdaily-eml-2014-12-11

Inspired by his son’s toys, a veterinarian in Germany came up with an unexpected idea to help a reptile with a bone disease move around.

By Kristina Bravo

Kristina Bravo is Assistant Editor at TakePart.


ke the tortoise in Aesop’s fable, Blade walks slowly but surely. The 4.4-ounce reptile has a metabolic bone disease that makes him too weak to carry his shell, so a vet built him a custom Lego walker.

When Blade’s owner saw that the tortoise wasn’t moving as much as her other pets, she took him to the local animal hospital.

“We mounted Lego wheels on the tortoise Blade because he had a bone metabolism illness and his shell was too heavy and he had a loss of muscles,” said Bielefeld, Germany–based veterinarian Carsten Plischke, according to CNET. “That’s why he couldn’t pick up himself and walk anymore. The bones were like rubber, and the musculature had clearly diminished.”

The device—inspired by Plischke’s son’s toys—has four wheels that allow Blade to use his legs while the Lego pieces bear the weight of his shell. The idea is that it will work like training wheels: When Blade gets stronger, he won’t need the “wheelchair” anymore.

FULL story at link.

[3catwoman3]

1. What a delightful...

...story of compassion and ingenuity!

[kysrsoze]

2. Awww, that's so sweet! What a nice thing to do.

I hope Blade gets to walk on his own some day.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

3. Commie Putin propaganda turtle!