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The Big Cat Sanctuary

A three-year-old lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone vital oral operation to extract a badly decayed fang caused by an abscess.

Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a fundraising effort by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who collected £500,000 to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

The procedure was carried out on Friday by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the damaged fang was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz.

He thought the infection was due to a injury sustained over twelve months back, causing bacteria producing toxins inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is non-human oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and most secure manner," 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 removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.

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

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

She noted the team had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to determine "how serious the condition was."

"Lira will be somewhat sore 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.

This vital operation marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.