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The Big Cat Sanctuary

A three-year-old female lion saved from war-torn Ukraine has received critical dental surgery to extract a severely infected canine tooth resulting from an infection.

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

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The procedure 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 right away the damaged fang was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz.

He thought the dental issue was caused by a trauma experienced more than a year ago, leading to germs producing toxins inside the tooth.

"My philosophy is animal oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and safest way," he explained.

Mr Kertesz explained that as the lioness did not need to catch prey, removal was the most "logical and humane option."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The sanctuary said the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

The curator, manager at the facility, declared the operation was a "complete success."

She noted the staff had spotted "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to assess "how serious the condition was."

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," commented the curator.

The successful surgery represents a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.