Eagle with an artificial beak

The white eagle named Beauty in America revived after being fitted with an artificial beak to help him eat and preen. The animal broke the mine by being hit by a poacher.

The 8-year-old bird was found collapsed and nearly dying in Alaska after being shot by a hunter who broke the mine three years ago. Its tongue and nostrils are exposed, making it impossible to chew or pry food.

The animal was taken care of by biologist Jane Fink Cantwell at the Northwestern Bird Center in Idaho, USA. She had to tear thin salmon pieces for the bird to eat by herself because she could not digest solid food herself.

"For Beauty, it's like just using a chopstick to eat. So it can't be helped. He can't drink water nor can he preen. If left alone, he will die", Cantwell to speak.

She decided to call on mechanical engineers, veterinarians, biologists and even dentists to work together to find a way to cure the poor bird.

Finally, Nate Calvin engineer at the Kinetic Engineering Organization pledged to create an artificial mine for Beauty.

Eagle before and after a false beak.(Photo: Daily Mail)

They designed a temporary mine made of synthetic nylon. The mine will be affixed to a titanium liner and attached to the Beauty's base. Later this year they will create a permanent titanium mine for the animal.

The case of attaching artificial mines to birds is quite rare but not precedent. Experts hope the mine will help the animal to feed itself.