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A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old lioness rescued from conflict-ridden the war zone has received critical dental surgery to extract a badly decayed canine tooth caused by an infection.

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

The Rescue Center

The surgery was performed on last week by veterinary dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the damaged fang was highly inflamed," said Mr Kertesz.

He thought the infection was due to a injury sustained over twelve months back, leading to germs creating toxins within the fang.

"My philosophy is non-human dental problems should be addressed in the safest, the most conservative and most secure manner," he said.

The expert explained that as Lira did not need to catch prey, removal 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 close the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.

He also performed a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.

The curator, curator at the facility, said the procedure was a "total triumph."

She noted the team had observed "a small lump on the lioness's face" 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 toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," added Ms Smith.

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