Rescued from Ukraine Lioness Receives Critical Surgery
The Big Cat Sanctuary
A three-year-old female lion rescued from war-torn Ukraine has received critical oral operation to remove a severely infected fang caused by an infection.
Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised half a million pounds to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Rescue Center
The surgery was performed on Friday by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the broken tooth was highly inflamed," said Mr Kertesz.
He believed the infection was caused by a trauma sustained more than a year ago, leading to germs producing harmful substances within the fang.
"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues should be addressed in the safest, the most conservative 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 Animal Rescue Facility
The sanctuary said the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.
He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.
The curator, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the operation was a "complete success."
She noted the staff had spotted "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "how serious the condition was."
"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," added the curator.
This vital operation marks a significant step in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.
