Rescued from Ukraine Lioness Undergoes Critical Surgery

The Big Cat Sanctuary

A three-year-old female lion rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received critical dental surgery to remove a severely infected canine tooth resulting from an abscess.

Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The surgery was performed on Friday by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the broken tooth was severely infected," said the dentist.

He believed the infection was due to a trauma sustained more than a year ago, causing bacteria creating toxins within the fang.

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

Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness did not need to catch prey, removal was the most "logical and humane option."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The rescue center reported the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to extract 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 corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.

Briony Smith, manager at the facility, declared the operation was a "complete success."

She said the team had observed "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to assess "how serious the condition was."

"The lioness 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 marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.