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A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old female lion rescued from war-torn the war zone has received critical oral operation to extract a severely infected fang resulting from an abscess.

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

The Rescue Center

The procedure was carried out on last week by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the broken tooth was severely infected," stated the dentist.

He believed the infection was caused by a injury experienced more than a year ago, causing bacteria producing harmful substances inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the least invasive and safest way," he explained.

The expert explained that as Lira no longer required to catch prey, removal was the most "logical and humane option."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The sanctuary said the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and seal the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.

He also performed 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 procedure was a "complete success."

She said the staff had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to determine "how serious the condition was."

"The lioness will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will begin improving over the coming days," added Ms Smith.

This vital operation represents a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her rescue from Ukraine.