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A Wildlife Rescue Center

An adolescent lioness rescued from conflict-ridden the war zone has received vital oral operation to extract a badly decayed fang resulting from an abscess.

The lioness arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March after a campaign by director Cam Whitnall, who raised half a million pounds to support her and four other rescued lions.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The surgery was carried out on Friday by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the damaged fang was severely infected," said Mr Kertesz.

He believed the infection was caused by a trauma sustained over twelve months back, leading to bacteria producing harmful substances inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is animal oral health issues need to be treated in the most predictable, the most conservative and safest way," he said.

Mr Kertesz clarified that as Lira no longer required to hunt for food, removal was the most "logical and humane option."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The rescue center said the removed fang was 8cm (3.14 inches) long, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a pocket of pus from beneath the tooth and seal the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.

He also performed a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.

Briony Smith, curator at the facility, said the procedure was a "complete success."

She said the team had spotted "a minor swelling on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to determine "how serious the condition was."

"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will begin improving 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.