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A Wildlife Rescue Center

An adolescent female lion saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone critical oral operation to extract a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an infection.

Lira was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March after a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

The surgery was performed on last week by veterinary dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the damaged fang was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz.

He believed the infection was caused by a injury experienced more than a year ago, leading to bacteria producing harmful substances within the fang.

"My philosophy is non-human dental problems need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and most secure manner," he explained.

Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness did not need to catch prey, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The sanctuary reported the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a pocket of pus from under the fang and close the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.

He also performed a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.

Briony Smith, curator at the facility, said the operation was a "total triumph."

She noted the staff had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to assess "the extent of the problem."

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.

The successful surgery marks a significant step in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.