A red-crowned crane which was critically injured in a fight with another bird has been given a new lease of life, after veterinary surgeons were able to make it a new beak using 3D-printing technology.

The young bird, Lili, was tragically left unable to feed after a damaging scrap with a rival, in which it broke its upper beak entirely according to People's Daily Online.

Surgeons from the Premier Wu Lide Animal Hospital in south China's ‪‎Guangzhou‬ province found the endangered bird in distress, and decided to invest in healing the animal back to full health.

Sad: The young bird, Lili, was tragically left unable to feed after a damaging fight in Guangzhou, south China

Brave: Surgeons from the Premier Wu Lide Animal Hospital found a solution using revolutionary 3D printing

The bird's new beak was made to measure using a 3D printer to ensure it fitted exactly, and it was installed during an hour-long, ground-breaking medical procedure in June - the overall cost of which has not yet been revealed by the animal hospital

The vets faced problems relating to the bird's nerve tissue around its face, as well as with the uneven surface caused by the beak fracture, but were able to overcome these issues.

The titanium alloy used to create the beak is similar to metals used to build aircraft because of its strength and light weight, and the bird appeared comfortable with it shortly after the operation.

Lili was later able to drink and eat without problems, and was back on its feet before very long.

Photos of Lili were released on the internet, with Weibo commenters praising its 'Wolverine' beak, a reference to the X-Men superhero with metal claws.

Careful: The procedure was difficult due to issues concerning the bird's nerve tissue and the size of the beak

Healed: Lili is now said to be able to eat and drink without problems with her new beak, according to the vets

It is not yet known when Lili will be returned to her zoo, although she was able to catch fish in a bucket without help shortly after her operation.

Lili recently turned 6-years-old and red-crowned cranes often live beyond 50 years old - which reveals the extent to which the operation saved her life.

Fewer than 1,500 of the birds remain in the world it is estimated, following a significant decline in wild populations over the past decade or so.

Two thirds of the birds spend the winter in China, feeding on fish, shrimp, insects, worms and water plants found in and around lakes and wetlands.