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The Big Cat Sanctuary

A three-year-old lioness rescued from conflict-ridden the war zone has received vital oral operation to extract a severely infected canine tooth caused by an infection.

Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March following a campaign by director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

The surgery was carried out on last week by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," said the dentist.

He believed the dental issue was due to a trauma experienced more than a year ago, leading to bacteria creating harmful substances inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and safest way," he explained.

The expert explained that as the lioness no longer required to catch prey, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The rescue center said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and seal the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.

He also performed a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.

The curator, manager at the facility, said the operation was a "total triumph."

She said the team had observed "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to determine "the extent of the problem."

"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," commented the curator.

The successful surgery represents a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.