Brazil Heron Takes Flight after Plastic Cup Removed from Throat

A heron with a plastic cup stuck through its throat sits among vegetation, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil December 6, 2024. (Reuters)
A heron with a plastic cup stuck through its throat sits among vegetation, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil December 6, 2024. (Reuters)
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Brazil Heron Takes Flight after Plastic Cup Removed from Throat

A heron with a plastic cup stuck through its throat sits among vegetation, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil December 6, 2024. (Reuters)
A heron with a plastic cup stuck through its throat sits among vegetation, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil December 6, 2024. (Reuters)

A heron took flight in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, stretching its wings and soaring over a river after veterinarians saved it from near-certain death by removing a plastic cup attached to its neck and blocking its throat.

The mission to save the bird prompted an outcry in Brazil over the impact of plastic pollution on wildlife in a city famed for its forested mountains overlooking a bustling seaside metropolis.

As its cage opened, the lanky heron hesitated for a moment before stepping out and leaping into the air, its white-gray wings carrying it over the river in Rio's Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood.

"God willing, it won't find any plastic or cups on the way," said Jeferson Pires, a veterinary biologist at a wildlife center who first sighted the unfortunate animal this month and posted about its predicament on social media.

The logo of the popular 200-ml (6.7-oz) guarana fruit-flavored drink was clearly visible on the heron's throat before it was captured last Friday. Video showed it struggling in vain to pick the cup off with its orange beak.

"What we saw today with this heron, over these two weeks, is how much these animals are impacted by plastic," said environmentalist Isabelle de Loys after the bird was freed.

The obstruction was preventing it from eating, and would probably cause starvation in a matter of days without surgical intervention, Pires said.

The carnivorous heron was seen at one point vomiting a fish it could not swallow because of the cup. Pires said lesions on the bird's long neck were probably due to such failed efforts to eat, leaving it slightly underweight.

Following Pires' initial posts, the heron became an environmental symbol. Its saga garnered coverage from major newspapers and broadcasters in Brazil, and sparked outrage online over the damage caused by single-use plastics.

After the cup was surgically removed, Pires said he was eager to release the elegant bird back into nature.

"We saw no reason to keep holding her," he said.

The bird, known to scientists as a Cocoi heron, the largest species of heron found in Latin America, is closely related to the great blue heron.

With their habitat spanning Panama to the southern tip of South America, the birds weigh up to 3 kg (7 lbs) with wings of length about 40 cm (16 inches).



South Korean Team Develops ‘Iron Man’ Robot that Helps Paraplegics Walk

Kim Seung-hwan, who is himself a paraplegic and part of the Exoskeleton Laboratory team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), demonstrates the prototype of exoskeleton robot 'WalkON Suit F1' at KAIST in Daejeon, South Korea, November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Sebin Choi P
Kim Seung-hwan, who is himself a paraplegic and part of the Exoskeleton Laboratory team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), demonstrates the prototype of exoskeleton robot 'WalkON Suit F1' at KAIST in Daejeon, South Korea, November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Sebin Choi P
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South Korean Team Develops ‘Iron Man’ Robot that Helps Paraplegics Walk

Kim Seung-hwan, who is himself a paraplegic and part of the Exoskeleton Laboratory team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), demonstrates the prototype of exoskeleton robot 'WalkON Suit F1' at KAIST in Daejeon, South Korea, November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Sebin Choi P
Kim Seung-hwan, who is himself a paraplegic and part of the Exoskeleton Laboratory team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), demonstrates the prototype of exoskeleton robot 'WalkON Suit F1' at KAIST in Daejeon, South Korea, November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Sebin Choi P

South Korean researchers have developed a lightweight wearable robot that can walk up to paraplegic users and lock itself onto them, enabling them to walk, manoeuvre obstacles and climb staircases.

The Exoskeleton Laboratory team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said their goal is to create a robot that seamlessly integrates into the daily lives of individuals with disabilities.

Kim Seung-hwan, who is himself a paraplegic and part of the KAIST team, demonstrated the prototype which helped him walk at a speed of 3.2 kph (2 mph), climb a flight of stairs and take sideways steps to slide into a bench.

"It can approach me wherever I am, even when I’m sitting in a wheelchair, and be worn to help me stand up, which is one of its most distinct features," Reuters quoted Kim.

The powered exoskeleton, named WalkON Suit F1, features aluminium and titanium composition to weigh in at 50 kg (110 lb), and is powered by 12 electronic motors that simulate the movements of human joints while walking.

Park Jeong-su, another member of the KAIST team, said he was inspired by the movie "Iron Man". "After watching Iron Man, I thought it would be great if I can help people with a robot in real life."

To ensure the user's balance while walking, the robot is equipped with sensors on its soles and in the upper body that monitor 1,000 signals per second and anticipate the user's intended movements.

Lenses on the front of the robot work as eyes which analyse its surroundings, identify the height of stairs and detect obstacles to compensate for the lack of sensory ability of users with complete paraplegia, Park said.

Kim Seung-hwan won the gold medal while wearing the WalkON Suit F1 in the exoskeleton category at Cybathlon 2024, opens new tab, which saw developers with varying physical disabilities demonstrate assistive robots in eight categories.

"I wanted to tell my son .... that I also used to able to walk. I wanted to share a diverse range of experiences with him," said Kim.