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A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old lioness saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone critical oral operation to remove a severely infected canine tooth caused by an infection.

Lira was brought to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected half a million pounds to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Rescue Center

The procedure was performed on last week by veterinary 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 severely infected," said Mr Kertesz.

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

"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the most conservative and most secure manner," he said.

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

The Animal Rescue Facility

The sanctuary reported the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.

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

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

She said the team had spotted "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to determine "how serious the condition was."

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," added Ms Smith.

This vital operation marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.