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A Wildlife Rescue Center

An adolescent female lion saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone vital dental surgery to extract 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 director the sanctuary's leader, who collected half a million pounds to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

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

"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the damaged fang was severely infected," stated Mr Kertesz.

He believed the infection was caused by a trauma experienced more than a year ago, causing germs creating toxins within the fang.

"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.

Mr Kertesz clarified that as Lira did not need to catch prey, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The rescue center said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

Briony Smith, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the procedure was a "complete success."

She said the team had observed "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "how serious the condition was."

"The lioness will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.

The successful surgery represents a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.