Rescued from Ukraine Lion Undergoes Essential Dental Operation

Lira the lioness undergoing dental surgery A Wildlife Rescue Center
A lioness named Lira receiving essential dental care to extract a badly infected tooth

A three-year-old lioness rescued from war-torn the war zone has undergone critical dental surgery to remove a severely infected canine tooth resulting from an abscess.

The lioness arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a campaign by director Cam Whitnall, who raised half a million pounds to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.

Amani and Lira at the sanctuary The Rescue Center
Amani and Lira are two of the big cats from Ukraine that arrived in March

The procedure was carried out on Friday by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see right away the broken tooth was severely infected," stated the dentist.

He thought the infection was caused by a trauma sustained more than a year ago, causing germs creating harmful substances inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues should be addressed in the safest, the most conservative and most secure manner," he said.

The expert clarified that as the lioness did not need to hunt for food, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

Lira's extracted tooth The Big Cat Sanctuary
Lira's extracted lower right canine tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long

The sanctuary reported the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and seal the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.

He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

The curator, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the procedure was a "complete success."

She noted the staff had observed "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to determine "the extent of the problem."

"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," added the curator.

The successful surgery marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.

Rita Davis
Rita Davis

Elara is a seasoned journalist and digital content creator with a passion for uncovering stories that matter.