Humpty again has a great fall, but vets put him back on road to recovery

Humpty has had a great fall, but doctors in the US have been able to put him together this time.

A tortoise named Humpty, weighing over 31 kilos, recently fell from a wall, cracking his shell. But he was luckier than Humpty Dumpty of the legendary nursery rhyme as veterinarians in San Diego city were able to carry out a successful surgery on him.

The tortoise fell from a 10-foot wall after a dog chased him, breaking its shell at three places. He was then taken to a veterinarian who specialised in reptiles by personnel of the local Animal Services, Fox 13 reported.

"The veterinarian drilled screws into the shell, and then tied it together for stability. The cracks were covered up with the same material used in dentures, which also should seal the cracks," the report said.

The surgery, which cost several thousand dollars, was paid for through a donor-driven initiative, called the Spirit Fund.

The Animal Services, who have named the tortoise Humpty, expect it to have a promising recovery, according to the report.