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The Big Cat Sanctuary

An adolescent lioness rescued from war-torn Ukraine has undergone vital oral operation to extract a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an infection.

Lira arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a fundraising effort by director Cam Whitnall, who collected half a million pounds to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

The surgery was carried out on Friday by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," stated the dentist.

He thought the dental issue was caused by a trauma sustained more than a year ago, leading to bacteria producing harmful substances inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is non-human oral health issues should be addressed in the safest, the most conservative and safest way," he explained.

The expert clarified that as the lioness did not need to catch prey, removal was the most "logical and humane option."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The rescue center reported the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to remove a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.

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

The curator, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the operation was a "total triumph."

She noted the staff had observed "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."

"Lira will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will begin improving over the coming days," commented Ms Smith.

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