🔗 Share this article

A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone vital oral operation to remove a severely infected fang resulting from an abscess.

Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a campaign by director the sanctuary's leader, who collected half a million pounds to support her and four other rescued lions.

The Rescue Center

The surgery was performed on Friday 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 broken tooth was severely infected," stated the dentist.

He believed the dental issue was caused by a injury sustained more than a year ago, causing bacteria creating toxins inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is animal dental problems should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and safest way," he said.

Mr Kertesz explained that as Lira no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The rescue center reported the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.

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

Briony Smith, curator at the facility, declared the procedure was a "total triumph."

She noted the team had spotted "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to determine "how serious the condition was."

"Lira will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," commented the curator.

The successful surgery represents a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.