🔗 Share this article

The Big Cat Sanctuary

An adolescent female lion rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received critical dental surgery to extract a badly decayed fang caused by an infection.

The lioness was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 following a fundraising effort by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who raised half a million pounds to fund her and four other rescued lions.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The surgery was carried out on last week by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

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

He believed the infection was caused by a injury sustained more than a year ago, leading to bacteria producing harmful substances inside the tooth.

"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues should be addressed in the safest, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.

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

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The sanctuary said the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to remove a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.

He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

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

She said the staff had spotted "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to determine "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 start to feel much better over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.

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