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The Big Cat Sanctuary

An adolescent female lion saved from war-torn the war zone has undergone vital dental surgery to extract a badly decayed canine tooth caused by an abscess.

Lira was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 following a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised half a million pounds to fund her and four other rescued lions.

The Rescue Center

The surgery was performed on last week by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see right away the broken tooth was highly inflamed," stated the dentist.

He believed the infection was due to a injury experienced over twelve months back, leading to bacteria creating harmful substances within the fang.

"The approach I follow is non-human oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and safest way," he said.

The expert clarified that as Lira did not need to hunt for food, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The sanctuary reported the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.

The curator, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the procedure was a "total triumph."

She said the staff had observed "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to assess "how serious the condition was."

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the coming days," added the curator.

The successful surgery marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.