Saved from Ukraine Lioness Receives Critical Surgery

A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old female lion saved from conflict-ridden the war zone has received critical dental surgery to remove a severely infected fang caused by an abscess.

Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 following a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised half a million pounds to support her and four other rescued lions.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The procedure was performed on Friday by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

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

He thought the infection was caused by a injury experienced over twelve months back, causing bacteria producing toxins within the fang.

"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and safest way," he explained.

The expert explained that as the lioness no longer required to catch prey, removal was the most "logical and humane option."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The rescue center said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a pocket of pus from under the fang and close the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.

He also performed a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.

Briony Smith, curator at the facility, said the procedure was a "total triumph."

She noted the staff had spotted "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to determine "the extent of the problem."

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," added the curator.

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