Rescued Ukrainian Lioness Undergoes Critical Surgery
A Wildlife Rescue Center
An adolescent female lion rescued from conflict-ridden Ukraine has undergone critical oral operation to extract a badly decayed fang resulting from an infection.
The lioness was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March following a campaign by director Cam Whitnall, who collected £500,000 to fund her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was performed on Friday by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.
"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see right away the damaged fang was severely infected," stated Mr Kertesz.
He thought the dental issue was due to a injury sustained more than a year ago, causing germs producing harmful substances inside the tooth.
"The approach I follow is animal dental problems need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and safest way," he said.
Mr Kertesz clarified that as Lira did not need to hunt for food, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The sanctuary said the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.
He also performed a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was also found to be infected.
Briony Smith, curator at the facility, said the operation was a "complete success."
She noted the team had spotted "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."
"Lira will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will begin improving over the next few days," commented Ms Smith.
The successful surgery represents a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.
