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A Wildlife Rescue Center

A three-year-old female lion saved from war-torn the war zone has undergone vital oral operation to extract a severely infected canine tooth resulting from an infection.

Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on March 14 after a fundraising effort by managing director Cam Whitnall, who collected half a million pounds to support her and four other rescued lions.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The surgery was carried out on last week by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"When I examined the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the broken tooth 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 toxins within the fang.

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

The expert explained that as Lira did not need to hunt for food, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."

The Animal Rescue Facility

The rescue center said the extracted tooth was 3.14 inches in length, with Mr Kertesz having to extract a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the large wound with seven dissolving sutures.

He additionally conducted a root canal treatment on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

The curator, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, declared the operation was a "complete success."

She noted the team had spotted "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to determine "the extent of the problem."

"Lira will be a little uncomfortable to initially, but now that the toxins are removed from her system, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," commented Ms Smith.

This vital operation marks a major milestone in Lira's recovery after her arrival from the conflict area.