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A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old lioness rescued from conflict-ridden the war zone has received vital oral operation to remove a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an infection.

Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 following a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who raised £500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

The procedure was performed on last week by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the damaged fang was highly inflamed," said the dentist.

He thought the dental issue was due to a trauma sustained over twelve months back, causing germs producing toxins inside the tooth.

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

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

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The rescue center said the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to remove a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.

He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

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

She said the staff had spotted "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," commented the curator.

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