Bald Beauty to Get Bionic Beak

A bald eagle that has survived three years without most of her upper beak is to be given a unique artificial one made from a nylon composite, reports the AP. The eagle, named Beauty, was found starving to death in Alaska in 2005, much of her beak shot away by hunters. She has been fed by hand ever since.

"For Beauty, it's like eating using only one chopstick to eat. It can't be done," said a biologist who operates a raptor recovery center in Idaho. With the new beak—which will be attached with glue—the 7-year-old eagle could live until the age of 50, but she'll remain in captivity. "She will be a huge educational tool, primarily to instruct people on why we should not shoot raptors," said the biologist. (More bald eagle stories.)