I remember having a bin full of Legos to play with as a child.
Yes, those snap together, colorful blocks of all shapes and sizes that are—quite literally—a pain when you step on them with a bare foot.
I recall a time when I was sick with mono. Aside from sleeping on the couch, I didn’t have the energy to do much, but I did build some Lego sets to help pass the time between the “thrilling” daytime TV shows. Later, I passed on those Lego sets to some kids I knew.
Now, years later, I am rediscovering the joy of Lego sets. So when I saw the news story about Root the wood turtle, my ears perked up.
Root sustained an injury decades ago that resulted in him losing his right front foot. That created mobility challenges as his shell kept scraping the ground when he was released from his habitat enclosure and allowed to get some time to explore.
One of the staff members at the Museum of Natural History in Halifax was inspired by an exhibit on Lego at the end of 2024. Tessa Biesterfeld had the idea to use Lego pieces and wheels to lift Root’s shell off the ground and improve his mobility.
Through testing and design improvements, Biesterfeld rigged together a dog harness and Lego pieces to create a removable mobility device.
This creativity protects Root’s shell from further damage and restores his ability to move around and explore the environment outside his regular enclosure three times a week.
If you want more details, check out the article “Meet Root, the turtle with a mobility aid made of Lego.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Root the wood turtle uses a Lego appliance to maneuver around the Museum of Natural History in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Frances Willick/CBC)
