Saved Ukrainian Lion Receives Essential Surgery

A Wildlife Rescue Center

An adolescent female lion rescued from war-torn the war zone has undergone vital oral operation to remove a badly decayed fang resulting from an infection.

Lira was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 following a campaign by director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions.

The Rescue Center

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

"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the broken tooth was severely infected," stated the dentist.

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

"The approach I follow is non-human dental problems should be addressed in the safest, the least invasive and safest way," he explained.

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

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The rescue center said the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

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

The curator, manager at the facility, declared the operation was a "complete success."

She noted the staff had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to assess "how serious the condition was."

"The lioness will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, 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.