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A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old female lion rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received vital oral operation to extract a severely infected fang resulting from an abscess.

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

The Rescue Center

The surgery was carried out on Friday by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the broken tooth was highly inflamed," said Mr Kertesz.

He thought the dental issue was caused by a injury sustained more than a year ago, causing bacteria creating harmful substances within the fang.

"My philosophy is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.

Mr Kertesz clarified that as Lira did not need to hunt for food, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The rescue center reported the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a pocket of pus from under the fang and seal the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.

He also performed a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

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

She said the staff had observed "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "how serious the condition was."

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," added the curator.

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