Saved from Ukraine Lion Receives Essential Surgery
The Big Cat Sanctuary
An adolescent female lion rescued from war-torn the war zone has undergone critical dental surgery to remove a badly decayed fang caused by an abscess.
Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 following a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was performed on Friday by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the broken tooth was severely infected," said Mr Kertesz.
He thought the dental issue was caused by a trauma sustained more than a year ago, leading to bacteria producing toxins within the fang.
"My philosophy is non-human dental problems should be addressed in the safest, the most conservative and most secure manner," he explained.
The expert clarified that as Lira no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The rescue center reported the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a pocket of pus from under the fang and close the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.
He also performed a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
Briony Smith, manager at the facility, declared the operation was a "total triumph."
She said the staff had observed "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to assess "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," added the curator.
This vital operation marks a significant step in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.
