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A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old female lion saved from war-torn Ukraine has received critical oral operation to remove a severely infected canine tooth resulting from an abscess.

The lioness was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 after a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised £500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

The surgery was performed on Friday by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," stated Mr Kertesz.

He thought the infection was due to a injury experienced over twelve months back, causing germs creating harmful substances within the fang.

"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.

Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness did not need to catch prey, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Animal Rescue Facility

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

He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

Briony Smith, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the procedure was a "total triumph."

She noted the staff had spotted "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."

"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," added Ms Smith.

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