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The Big Cat Sanctuary

A three-year-old female lion saved from conflict-ridden the war zone has received vital dental surgery to extract a badly decayed canine tooth caused by an abscess.

Lira arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 after a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised half a million pounds to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

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

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

He thought the infection was due to a injury experienced more than a year ago, leading to germs producing harmful substances inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is animal dental problems should be addressed in the safest, the most conservative and most secure manner," he said.

Mr Kertesz clarified that as Lira did not need to catch prey, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and seal the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.

He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.

The curator, manager at the facility, said the operation was a "total triumph."

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

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," commented the curator.

This vital operation marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.