Rescued Ukrainian Lion Receives Essential Dental Operation

The Big Cat Sanctuary

An adolescent lioness saved from war-torn Ukraine has undergone vital oral operation to remove a badly decayed fang caused by an abscess.

Lira was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a fundraising effort by director the sanctuary's leader, who raised half a million pounds to support her and four other rescued lions.

The Rescue Center

The surgery was carried out on Friday by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

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

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

"My philosophy is animal dental problems need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and most secure manner," he explained.

The expert explained 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 reported the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to remove 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 discovered to have a similar issue.

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

She said the team had observed "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to determine "the extent of the problem."

"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will begin improving over the coming days," added Ms Smith.

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