🔗 Share this article

A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old lioness rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received critical oral operation to remove a badly decayed fang resulting from an abscess.

The lioness was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March after a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who raised £500,000 to support her and four other rescued lions.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

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

"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the damaged fang was severely infected," stated the dentist.

He believed the dental issue was caused by a injury experienced over twelve months back, causing bacteria creating harmful substances within the fang.

"The approach I follow is animal dental problems need to be treated in the most predictable, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.

Mr Kertesz explained that as Lira no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The rescue center said the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

He also performed a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

The curator, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the operation was a "complete success."

She said the team had observed "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to determine "the extent of the problem."

"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," added the curator.

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