Rescued from Ukraine Lion Receives Critical Surgery

The Big Cat Sanctuary

A three-year-old lioness saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone vital dental surgery to remove a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an abscess.

The lioness was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March after a fundraising effort by director the sanctuary's leader, who raised half a million pounds to support her and four other rescued lions.

The Rescue Center

The surgery was performed on Friday by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.

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

He thought the dental issue was due to a injury experienced more than a year ago, leading to germs producing toxins within the fang.

"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.

Mr Kertesz explained that as Lira did not need to catch prey, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The rescue center said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a pocket of pus from under the fang and close 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 "total triumph."

She said the team had observed "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to assess "how serious the condition was."

"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the infectious materials are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented the curator.

The successful surgery represents a significant step in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.