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The Big Cat Sanctuary

An adolescent female lion rescued from conflict-ridden the war zone has received vital oral operation to remove a badly decayed canine tooth caused by an abscess.

Lira arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March following a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised half a million pounds to fund her and four other rescued lions.

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 Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see right away the broken tooth was highly inflamed," stated the dentist.

He thought the dental issue was due to a trauma sustained over twelve months back, leading to bacteria creating toxins within the fang.

"My philosophy is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.

The expert clarified that as the lioness no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Animal Rescue Facility

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

He also performed a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

The curator, curator at the facility, said the operation was a "complete success."

She said the staff had spotted "a small lump on the lioness's face" 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 coming days," commented the curator.

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