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A Wildlife Rescue Center

An adolescent female lion rescued from war-torn the war zone has undergone vital dental surgery to extract a severely infected fang caused by an infection.

Lira arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March after a campaign by director Cam Whitnall, who collected half a million pounds to fund her and four other rescued lions.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The surgery was carried out on Friday by veterinary dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the broken tooth was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz.

He thought the infection was due to a trauma experienced over twelve months back, leading to bacteria creating harmful substances inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.

Mr Kertesz clarified that as Lira no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and seal the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.

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 procedure was a "total triumph."

She said the staff had observed "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to determine "the extent of the problem."

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.

This vital operation marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.