Rescued from Ukraine Lioness Undergoes Critical Surgery
The Big Cat Sanctuary
An adolescent female lion saved from conflict-ridden Ukraine has received vital oral operation to extract a badly decayed fang resulting from an infection.
The lioness arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on March 14 following a fundraising effort by director Cam Whitnall, who raised half a million pounds to fund her and four other rescued lions.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The surgery was carried out on last week by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.
"Upon inspecting Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see right away the damaged fang was highly inflamed," said Mr Kertesz.
He thought the infection was caused by a trauma sustained more than a year ago, leading to bacteria producing harmful substances within the fang.
"The approach I follow is non-human oral health issues need to be treated in the safest, the least invasive and safest way," he explained.
Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness did not need to hunt for food, removal was the most "sensible and ethical solution."
The Animal Rescue Facility
The sanctuary said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a pocket of pus from under the fang and seal the large wound with multiple absorbable stitches.
He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
The curator, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the operation was a "total triumph."
She noted the team had spotted "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been impossible to assess "how serious the condition was."
"The lioness will be somewhat sore to begin with, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," commented the curator.
This vital operation represents a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.
