Maryland zoo builds Lego-wheelchair for turtle with broken shell

A wild turtle who had broken its shell is able to move again thanks to the efforts of staff at Maryland Zoo, Baltimore, who have managed to make it a wheelchair our of Legos.

According to media reports, veterinarians had performed surgery on the grapefruit-sized eastern box turtle found in July with fractures to the underside of his shell.

Veterinary extern Garrett Fraess says keeping the shell bottom off the ground is important so it can heal.

Fraess says no one makes turtle-sized wheelchairs, so he sent sketches to a friend who's a Lego enthusiast.

A few weeks after the surgery, the turtle had the wheelchair, which gets the shell off the ground and allows his legs to move.

Zoo Dr. Ellen Bronson says the turtle will likely use the wheelchair into the spring.

The unique design allows him to exhibit natural behaviours, such as fully closing his shell if he feels threatened.

This particular animal was tagged in the wild in 2018, so he's at least 18 years old.

Once healed, he will most probably be released back in wild

Once he heals he will likely be released back into the wild