Saved Ukrainian Lion Undergoes Critical Surgery
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent female lion rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone critical dental surgery to extract a severely infected fang resulting from an infection.
Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 after a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised £500,000 to support her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was carried out on Friday by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the damaged fang was highly inflamed," said Mr Kertesz.
He believed the dental issue was due to a trauma experienced more than a year ago, causing bacteria creating toxins within the fang.
"My philosophy is animal dental problems should be addressed in the most predictable, the most conservative and safest way," he said.
The expert explained that as Lira no longer required to catch prey, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
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 significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.
He additionally conducted 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 noted the team had spotted "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to determine "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.
This vital operation marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.
