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A Wildlife Rescue Center

An adolescent lioness saved from war-torn the war zone has undergone vital oral operation to extract a badly decayed fang caused by an abscess.

Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 following a campaign by director Cam Whitnall, who collected half a million pounds to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

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

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the broken tooth was severely infected," said Mr Kertesz.

He thought the infection was due to a trauma sustained more than a year ago, causing germs creating harmful substances inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and safest way," he explained.

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

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The sanctuary said the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to remove a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.

He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

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

She said the team had spotted "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to assess "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 begin improving over the coming days," commented Ms Smith.

This vital operation represents a major milestone in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.