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A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old female lion rescued from war-torn Ukraine has undergone vital dental surgery to extract a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an abscess.

Lira was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March following a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who collected half a million pounds to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The procedure was carried out on last week by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the damaged fang was highly inflamed," said Mr Kertesz.

He thought the dental issue was due to a trauma sustained more than a year ago, leading to germs producing toxins inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is non-human dental problems should be addressed in the most predictable, the most conservative and most secure manner," he explained.

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

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The rescue center said the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and seal the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.

Briony Smith, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the procedure was a "complete success."

She noted the staff had observed "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "how serious the condition was."

"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the coming days," added the curator.

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