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The Big Cat Sanctuary

An adolescent female lion rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone critical oral operation to extract a severely infected canine tooth caused by an infection.

The lioness was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March after a fundraising effort by director the sanctuary's leader, who raised half a million pounds to support her and four other rescued lions.

The Rescue Center

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

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the broken tooth was severely infected," said Mr Kertesz.

He believed the infection was caused by a trauma sustained over twelve months back, leading to germs creating toxins within the fang.

"My philosophy is non-human dental problems need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.

Mr Kertesz clarified that as Lira no longer required to catch prey, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection 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, manager at the facility, said the operation was a "total triumph."

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

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the coming days," commented Ms Smith.

The successful surgery marks a significant step in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.