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The Big Cat Sanctuary

An adolescent lioness rescued from war-torn Ukraine has received critical dental surgery to extract a badly decayed fang resulting from an abscess.

Lira was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 following a campaign by director Cam Whitnall, who raised £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.

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

He thought the dental issue was caused by a injury experienced more than a year ago, causing germs producing toxins inside the tooth.

"My philosophy is animal dental problems should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and most secure manner," he explained.

The expert explained that as Lira did not need to hunt for food, removal 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 remove a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and seal the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.

He also performed a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.

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

She said the staff had spotted "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to determine "how serious the condition was."

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

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