🔗 Share this article

The Big Cat Sanctuary

An adolescent female lion rescued from conflict-ridden the war zone has undergone critical oral operation to extract a severely infected canine tooth resulting from an abscess.

Lira arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 after a fundraising effort by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who collected £500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

The procedure was carried out on last week by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the broken tooth was highly inflamed," said Mr Kertesz.

He believed the dental issue was due to a injury sustained over twelve months back, causing germs producing harmful substances inside the tooth.

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

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

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The rescue center said the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.

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

Briony Smith, curator at the facility, said the operation was a "complete success."

She said the team had spotted "a minor swelling 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 infectious materials are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the coming days," added Ms Smith.

The successful surgery represents a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.