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A Wildlife Rescue Center

An adolescent lioness saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone critical dental surgery to remove a badly decayed canine tooth caused by an abscess.

Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a fundraising effort by director the sanctuary's leader, who raised £500,000 to support her and four other rescued lions.

The Rescue Center

The surgery was carried out on last week by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the damaged fang was highly inflamed," stated Mr Kertesz.

He believed the dental issue was caused by a injury sustained more than a year ago, causing bacteria producing toxins inside the tooth.

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

Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness no longer required to hunt for food, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The sanctuary reported the extracted tooth was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to remove a pocket of pus 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, curator at the facility, declared the operation 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 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," commented the curator.

The successful surgery represents a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.