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The Big Cat Sanctuary

A three-year-old female lion saved from war-torn Ukraine has received critical oral operation to extract a badly decayed canine tooth caused by an abscess.

Lira was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 after a campaign by director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to support her and four other rescued lions.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The procedure was performed on last week by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the broken tooth was severely infected," stated Mr Kertesz.

He thought the infection was due to a injury experienced over twelve months back, leading to bacteria producing harmful substances within the fang.

"My philosophy is non-human dental problems need to be treated in the safest, the most conservative and safest way," he said.

Mr Kertesz explained that as Lira did not need to hunt for food, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a pocket of pus from under the fang and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.

He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.

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

She noted the staff had observed "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 out of her body, she will begin improving over the coming days," commented the curator.

This vital operation represents a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.