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A Wildlife Rescue Center

An adolescent lioness saved from conflict-ridden the war zone has received vital oral operation to remove a severely infected canine tooth resulting from an infection.

Lira was brought to a wildlife sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March after a campaign by managing director the sanctuary's leader, who raised £500,000 to support her and four other rescued lions.

The Rescue Center

The surgery was performed 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 damaged fang was highly inflamed," said the dentist.

He thought the dental issue was due to a injury sustained over twelve months back, causing bacteria creating toxins inside the tooth.

"The approach I follow is animal dental problems should be addressed in the most predictable, the most conservative and safest way," he explained.

The expert clarified that as the lioness no longer required to catch prey, extraction was the most "sensible and ethical solution."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The sanctuary said the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to remove a accumulated infection from under the fang and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

He also performed a dental procedure on the corresponding top fang, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

The curator, manager at The Big Cat Sanctuary, said the procedure was a "total triumph."

She said the team had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to determine "how serious the condition was."

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will begin improving over the next few days," added the curator.

The successful surgery marks a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her arrival from the conflict area.