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The Big Cat Sanctuary

A three-year-old female lion saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received critical oral operation to extract a severely infected canine tooth caused by an infection.

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

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The procedure was performed on last week by 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 broken tooth was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz.

He believed the infection was caused by a injury experienced more than a year ago, causing bacteria creating harmful substances inside the tooth.

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

Mr Kertesz clarified that as Lira did not need to hunt for food, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The sanctuary reported the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.

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

Briony Smith, manager at the facility, declared the operation was a "complete success."

She said the team had observed "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to determine "how serious the condition was."

"The lioness will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," added Ms Smith.

The successful surgery marks a significant step in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.