🔗 Share this article Rescued from Ukraine Lioness Receives Essential Dental Operation The Big Cat Sanctuary Lira the lioness from The Big Cat Sanctuary undergoing critical dental surgery to remove a severely infected lower right canine tooth A three-year-old female lion rescued from war-torn the war zone has received critical dental surgery to remove a severely infected canine tooth resulting from an abscess. Lira arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March after a campaign by director Cam Whitnall, who raised half a million pounds to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine. The Rescue Center Two lions, Amani and Lira, were among the animals rescued from Ukraine and brought to the sanctuary The surgery was carried out on Friday by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines. "When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the damaged fang was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz. He believed the infection was due to a injury sustained over twelve months back, causing bacteria creating toxins inside the tooth. "My philosophy is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and most secure manner," he explained. Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness did not need to catch prey, extraction was the most "logical and humane option." The Animal Rescue Facility Lira's extracted lower right canine tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long The sanctuary said the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and close the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches. He additionally conducted a root canal treatment 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 noted the team had observed "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to determine "how serious the condition was." "Lira will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the infectious materials 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 the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.