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A Wildlife Rescue Center

An adolescent female lion saved from conflict-ridden the war zone has undergone critical dental surgery to remove a severely infected canine tooth caused by 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 support her and four other rescued lions.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The surgery was performed on last week by veterinary dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see right away the damaged fang was highly inflamed," said the dentist.

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

"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.

Mr Kertesz explained that as Lira no longer required 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 beneath the tooth and close the significant opening with multiple absorbable stitches.

He also performed a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

Briony Smith, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the operation was a "total triumph."

She noted the team had observed "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "the extent of the problem."

"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," added the curator.

This vital operation marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.