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A Wildlife Rescue Center

An adolescent lioness saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received critical oral operation to extract a severely infected fang caused by an infection.

Lira was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March after a fundraising effort by director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

The surgery was performed on last week by veterinary 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 broken tooth was severely infected," said Mr Kertesz.

He believed the infection was caused by a injury sustained more than a year ago, causing bacteria creating toxins inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is animal dental problems need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and safest way," he said.

Mr Kertesz explained that as the lioness no longer required to hunt for food, removal was the most "logical and humane option."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The rescue center reported the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to remove a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and seal the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

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

The curator, manager at the facility, said the procedure was a "complete success."

She noted the staff had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to determine "how serious the condition was."

"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," commented the curator.

The successful surgery represents a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.