🔗 Share this article Rescued from Ukraine Lioness Receives Essential Dental Operation The Big Cat Sanctuary Lira the lioness from The Big Cat Sanctuary undergoing critical dental surgery to remove a severely infected lower right canine tooth A three-year-old lioness rescued from war-torn the war zone has undergone critical oral operation to extract a badly decayed fang resulting from an abscess. Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 following a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised half a million pounds to support her and four other rescued lions. The Big Cat Sanctuary Amani and Lira are two of the big cats from Ukraine that arrived in March 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 immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," said the dentist. He believed the infection was due to a trauma experienced more than a year ago, causing germs creating toxins inside the tooth. "The approach I follow is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and most secure manner," he said. The expert clarified that as Lira did not need to catch prey, removal was the most "logical and humane option." The Big Cat Sanctuary The removed fang measured 8 centimeters, equivalent to 3.14 inches The rescue center reported the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to remove a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches. He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue. The curator, manager at the facility, declared the procedure was a "total triumph." She noted the staff had observed "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem." "The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the coming days," commented Ms Smith. This vital operation marks a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.