Rescued from Ukraine Lion Receives Essential Surgery
The Big Cat Sanctuary
An adolescent female lion rescued from war-torn the war zone has undergone vital dental surgery to extract a badly decayed fang resulting from an infection.
Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March following a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery was carried out on Friday by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," said Mr Kertesz.
He thought the dental issue was due to a injury experienced more than a year ago, causing germs producing toxins within the fang.
"My philosophy is non-human dental problems need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and safest way," he said.
The expert clarified that as the lioness did not need to catch prey, removal was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The rescue center said the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and seal the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.
He also performed a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, manager at the facility, declared the operation was a "total triumph."
She said the team had observed "a small lump on the lioness's face" but it had been difficult to determine "how serious the condition was."
"Lira will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented the curator.
This vital operation represents a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.