Saved Ukrainian Lioness Receives Critical Surgery
A Wildlife Rescue Center
A three-year-old lioness rescued from war-torn the war zone has undergone critical dental surgery to extract a severely infected fang caused by an abscess.
Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March following a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised half a million pounds to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.
The Big Cat Sanctuary
The procedure was carried out on last week by 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 broken tooth was highly inflamed," said the dentist.
He believed the dental issue was due to a trauma sustained more than a year ago, causing bacteria creating harmful substances within the fang.
"My philosophy is animal oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the most conservative and most secure manner," he explained.
The expert clarified that as the lioness no longer required to hunt for food, extraction 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 the dentist having to extract a pocket of pus from under the fang and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.
He also performed a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was also found to be infected.
The curator, curator at The Big Cat Sanctuary, 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 assess "the extent of the problem."
"The lioness will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," added the curator.
This vital operation represents a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.
