Tuqui is an 11-year-old female toucan with a disability, detected when she arrived at the Terra Natura Zoo in Benidorm.
Shortly after arriving at the park, staff noticed that Tuqui could not fly and moved from branch to branch with short jumps or hops. She had to learn to defend herself very quickly as the other toucans attacked her, knowing the advantage they had over her.
Once the problem was detected, the bird was taken to the clinic, where she was diagnosed with wing growth deformity and an incurable skin condition that prevented her from developing the feathers necessary to maintain flight.
The caretakers and veterinarians established ingenious strategies to improve her quality of life, enabling her behavioral development.
Tuqui was moved to a smaller enclosure so she felt comfortable and safe, then, as her confidence grew, the space was gradually expanded.
She formed a strong emotional bond with her caretaker, which was especially important for her to help her overcome the challenges posed by her disability.
Tuqui's caretaker has been working patiently with her for over a year, to gain her trust, adapt the facility to her needs, and reinforce skills to overcome her physical barriers.
All of these efforts are slowly beginning to bear fruit. Tuqui can cover distances of 20 cm by leaping from branch to branch, demonstrating acrobatic prowess.
Now, Tuqui lives in a specially adapted facility and coexists with other disabled animals. A circuit of cleverly arranged branches, forming a staircase, allows Tuqui to move easily throughout the facility.
Thanks to Terra Natura, Tuqui can enjoy a life with relative freedom, despite her disability, which otherwise would not have been possible.
