🔗 Share this article

The Big Cat Sanctuary

An adolescent lioness rescued from conflict-ridden the war zone has received critical dental surgery to remove a severely infected fang resulting from an abscess.

Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March after a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who collected half a million pounds to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

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

"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the broken tooth was severely infected," said Mr Kertesz.

He thought the infection was caused by a injury experienced more than a year ago, leading to bacteria producing toxins inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is non-human dental problems need to be treated in the most predictable, the least invasive and safest way," he said.

Mr Kertesz clarified 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 said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

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

The curator, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared 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 determine "the extent of the problem."

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the next few days," added Ms Smith.

This vital operation marks a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.