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An eastern box turtle rolling around in his LEGO wheelchair. The Maryland Zoo
An injured wild turtle is rolling through recovery at the Maryland Zoo with the aid of a LEGO wheelchair.
The grapefruit-sized, approximately 18-year-old eastern box turtle was found by a zoo employee at Druid Hill Park in July. The reptile had multiple fractures on the bottom part of his shell and was taken to the zoo's hospital for treatment.
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Veterinarians performed surgery on the turtle and used metal bone plates, sewing clasps and surgical wire to hold the shell fragments together.
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The vets then came up with a clever idea to keep the bottom of the shell elevated off the ground so it could properly heal.
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<span></span>"They don't make turtle-sized wheelchairs," veterinary extern Garrett Fraess explained in a press release received by EcoWatch. "So, we drew some sketches of a customized wheelchair and I sent them to a friend who is a LEGO enthusiast."
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A few weeks after surgery, the turtle received his very own multi-colored wheelchair, featuring a frame and wheels made with LEGO bricks. The device was attached to the turtle's upper shell with plumbers putty.
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<span></span>"He took off and has been doing great," Fraess said. "Turtles are really good at healing as long as the shell remains stable."
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Ellen Bronson, senior director of animal health, conservation and research at the zoo, said that the turtle will likely use his LEGO wheelchair through the winter and into the spring until all of the fragments have fused together and the shell has completely healed.
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"We are very happy that he is recovering well from his injuries and we plan to return him to the wild once he is fully healed," she added.
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<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODY3MjIzNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzk4MDQwMn0.p069gKfxsSpvCsfYGys-i_ZRlZ5BTDWAjBP0qBnqk40/img.jpg?width=980" id="e3d0d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f8c8a8b0b2855f6cbea9663d52033235" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">The turtle's plastron (the bottom part of his shell) is healing.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">The Maryland Zoo</small>
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Fresh after meeting its 100 percent renewable energy milestone, LEGO is making progress towards its 2030 goal of replacing 20 types of its traditional, petroleum-based bricks with sustainable alternatives.
Quartz reports that the 84-year-old Danish toymaker is experimenting with bioplastics, which is made from plants or other biodegradable materials.
<p>The biggest challenge is finding a substitute material with the same durability, functionality and look of the brand's iconic, interlocking plastic bricks.</p><p>"I'm about to pass on the LEGO bricks I played with as a child and the bricks my dad passed down to me to my son," Tim Brooks, vice president of environmental responsibility for the LEGO Group, told the publication. "We know LEGO bricks are often passed down through generations—making it so important that the sustainable materials chosen for our products be extremely durable."</p><p>One option is a brick made of wheat sugar, but testers considered it "dull and flat" compared to LEGO's conventional, shiny blocks, according to Quartz. <br></p><p>In 2015, LEGO announced its investment of DKK 1 billion ($155 million) to establish a <a href="https://www.lego.com/nb-no/aboutus/contact/sustainable-materials-centre" target="_blank">Sustainable Materials Center</a> to find and implement sustainable alternatives to current materials in order to reduce its environmental footprint.</p><p><span></span>Brooks, who oversees the center, relayed his confidence that LEGO will one day find the ideal, bio-based materials.<br></p><p>"We know that making bricks has an impact on the planet, and we want it to be a positive one," he said. </p><p>LEGO's <a href="http://www.themoldingblog.com/2017/05/11/lego-tests-bricks-made-from-wheat-bioplastic/" target="_blank">reported</a> criteria for replacement plastics are: no undesirable chemicals; sustainably sourced and manufactured feedstock (aka, the raw materials); and minimum waste.<br><span></span></p>
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The LEGO group announced it reached its goal of balancing 100 percent of its energy use with renewable sources.
The beloved toymaker's ambitious feat was achieved three years early thanks to its 25 percent stake in the massive, 258-megawatt Burbo Bank Extension offshore wind farm that just opened Wednesday in the UK's Liverpool Bay.
<p><span></span>"We work to leave a positive impact on the planet and I am truly excited about the inauguration of the Burbo Bank Extension wind farm," said Bali Padda, CEO of the LEGO Group.</p><p>"This development means we have now reached the 100 percent renewable energy milestone three years ahead of target. Together with our partners, we intend to continue investing in renewable energy to help create a better future for the builders of tomorrow."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed"><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-864802726873620481" id="twitter-embed-864802726873620481" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-864802726873620481&created_ts=1495020012.0&screen_name=Liverpool_ONE&text=It%27s+official%3A+%40LEGO_Group+have+broken+the+world+record+for+the+World%27s+Largest+LEGO+Brick+Wind+Turbine%21+%23woohoo+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FSXItMNyuJf&id=864802726873620481&name=Liverpool+ONE" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="2QO38M1495137925"></iframe></p><p>As <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2017/05/18/lego-group-reaches-100-renewable-energy-target-three-years-ahead-schedule/" target="_blank">CleanTechnica</a> reported, the wind farm is a joint venture between DONG Energy, PKA and KIRKBI A/S—the parent company of the LEGO Group. Because of that, LEGO was able to reach its 100 percent renewable energy goal after only four years and DKK 6 billion worth of investment into two offshore wind farms.</p><p>According to an <a href="https://www.lego.com/en-gb/aboutus/news-room/2017/may/100-percent-renewable-milestone/" target="_blank">announcement</a>, the LEGO Group has supported the development of more than 160 megawatts of renewable energy since 2012. Total output from its investments in renewables now exceeds the energy consumed at all LEGO factories, stores and offices globally, it said. <br></p><p>To celebrate the milestone, the Danish company set a Guinness World Record by building the largest ever LEGO brick wind turbine—a seven and a half meter tall structure made from 146,000 bricks. LEGO even enlisted its mascot, Batman, to receive the recognition at a ceremony in Liverpool.</p><p>"We see children as our role models and as we take action in reducing our environmental impact as a company, we will also continue to work to inspire children around the world by engaging them in environmental and social issues," Padda said.</p>
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