🔗 Share this article

A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old female lion saved from war-torn the war zone has undergone critical oral operation to remove a severely infected fang caused by an infection.

Lira was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March after a campaign by director the sanctuary's leader, who raised £500,000 to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

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

"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the broken tooth was highly inflamed," said Mr Kertesz.

He thought the infection was due to a injury experienced over twelve months back, causing germs producing harmful substances inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is animal dental problems need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.

Mr Kertesz explained that as Lira no longer required to hunt for food, removal 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 seal the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

He also performed a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.

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

She said the staff had spotted "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "how serious the condition was."

"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," added Ms Smith.

The successful surgery marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.