Rescued from Ukraine Lion Receives Critical Surgery
A Wildlife Rescue Center
A three-year-old female lion rescued from conflict-ridden the war zone has undergone critical dental surgery to remove a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an infection.
Lira was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 after a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who raised £500,000 to fund her and four other rescued lions.
The Rescue Center
The surgery was performed on last week by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the broken tooth was highly inflamed," said Mr Kertesz.
He thought the dental issue was caused by a trauma sustained more than a year ago, leading to bacteria producing toxins within the fang.
"The approach I follow is non-human dental problems need to be treated in the safest, the most conservative and most secure manner," he explained.
The expert clarified that as Lira no longer required to hunt for food, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The rescue center reported the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.
He also performed a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the procedure was a "complete success."
She noted the staff had spotted "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the infectious materials are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.
This vital operation represents a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.
