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The Big Cat Sanctuary

A three-year-old female lion saved from war-torn Ukraine has undergone vital oral operation to extract a severely infected fang resulting from an infection.

Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March following a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

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

"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see right away the damaged fang was severely infected," said the dentist.

He believed the infection was due to a trauma experienced over twelve months back, leading to bacteria producing toxins within the fang.

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

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

The Animal Rescue Facility

The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to remove a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.

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

The curator, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the procedure was a "complete success."

She said the team had observed "a small lump 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 infectious materials are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the next few days," added the curator.

This vital operation marks a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.