Rescued from Ukraine Lioness Receives Critical Surgery

A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old lioness saved from conflict-ridden the war zone has received critical oral operation to remove a severely infected fang resulting from an infection.

Lira arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March following a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The procedure was performed on Friday by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," stated the dentist.

He believed the infection was due to a injury sustained more than a year ago, leading to germs producing toxins inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is animal dental problems should be addressed in the safest, the most conservative and most secure manner," he said.

Mr Kertesz explained that as Lira did not need to catch prey, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The sanctuary reported the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to extract a pocket of pus from under the fang and seal the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.

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

The curator, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the operation was a "total triumph."

She said the staff had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."

"Lira will be somewhat sore 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 the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.