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A Wildlife Rescue Center

An adolescent lioness saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received critical 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 fundraising effort by director the sanctuary's leader, who collected £500,000 to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

The procedure was carried out on Friday by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," stated the dentist.

He thought the dental issue was due to a injury experienced more than a year ago, causing bacteria creating toxins inside the tooth.

"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and safest way," he said.

Mr Kertesz explained that as Lira no longer required to catch prey, 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 seven dissolving sutures.

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

The curator, manager at the facility, said the procedure was a "complete success."

She noted the staff had observed "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" 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 toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the coming days," added the curator.

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