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A Wildlife Rescue Center

An adolescent lioness rescued from war-torn the war zone has received vital dental surgery to remove a badly decayed canine tooth resulting from an infection.

Lira arrived at a wildlife sanctuary in Smarden, Kent on 14 March after a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised £500,000 to support her and four other rescued lions.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The procedure was performed on Friday by dentist an experienced animal dentist, who has treated about 450 big cats.

"Upon inspecting the lioness's oral cavity, I could see immediately the broken tooth was severely infected," said Mr Kertesz.

He believed the infection was caused by a trauma experienced more than a year ago, causing bacteria creating harmful substances within the fang.

"My philosophy is non-human oral health issues should be addressed in the most predictable, the most conservative and safest way," he said.

The expert explained that as the lioness did not need to catch prey, removal was the most "logical and humane option."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

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

He additionally conducted a dental procedure on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

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

She said the team had observed "a small lump on Lira's jawline" but it had been difficult to determine "how serious the condition was."

"Lira will be somewhat sore to initially, but now that the infectious materials are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the next few days," added the curator.

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