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A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old female lion saved from conflict-ridden the war zone has undergone vital oral operation to remove a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an infection.

Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 following a fundraising effort by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who collected half a million pounds to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

The procedure was performed on Friday by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see right away the damaged fang was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz.

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

"My philosophy is animal oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and most secure manner," he explained.

Mr Kertesz explained that as the lioness did not need to catch prey, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The rescue center reported the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and seal the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.

He also performed a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.

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

She said the team had spotted "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to determine "how serious the condition was."

"Lira will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will begin improving over the coming days," commented the curator.

This vital operation marks a significant step in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.