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The Big Cat Sanctuary

A three-year-old lioness saved from war-torn Ukraine has undergone critical oral operation to remove a badly decayed fang caused by an abscess.

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

The Rescue Center

The procedure was carried out on Friday by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the damaged fang was highly inflamed," said the dentist.

He thought the dental issue was due to a trauma sustained over twelve months back, causing germs creating harmful substances inside the tooth.

"My philosophy is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the most conservative and safest way," he said.

Mr Kertesz clarified that as Lira no longer required to catch prey, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.

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

The curator, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the procedure was a "total triumph."

She said the staff had spotted "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."

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

The successful surgery represents a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.