A lion without its bite isn’t much of a lion at all! This is how the well-known Kevin Richardson describes Aslan’s tragic situation. The majestic nine-year-old lion was suffering from rotten and broken off canines. I can’t imagine the anguish he must have felt.
For many years, the lion whisperer and the beautiful cat have known each other. So the lion’s condition breaks Richardson’s heart because he sees those adorable creatures as if they were his own children. This unbearable pain has “made him more aloof, more agitated, more aggressive, and he isolates himself from the pride,” according to the whisperer.
It is critical for a lion, as well as any other wild animal, to have functional teeth. As a result, getting Aslan to use his canines again was the top priority. And, to Richardson’s delight, this was about to happen sooner than expected, thanks to Fixodent. After all, the lion was about to regain his powerful bite, but more importantly, the terrible pain that had been tormenting him was about to fade away.
The video depicts the surgical procedure for reattaching the lion’s teeth. It took nearly 6 hours, but Aslan now has four teeth instead of the two that were originally expected. Most importantly, everything went smoothly.
In a post-operation interview, Dr. Gerhard Steenkamp stated that once he got into the lion’s mouth, it was clear that there had been an ongoing chronic infection that had burst up into the nose. Aslan spent some time at the sanctuary recovering and receiving antibiotics before being released back into the wild with his pride.
Now that the pain has subsided, the white lion can resume his life!
You’ve probably all heard of Kevin Richardson. Kevin Richardson Wildlife Preserve, a self-sustaining carnivore preservation, is run by him. Their mission is to save and protect the species of these beautiful wild cats. The lion whisperer has developed a very affectionate and trusting relationship with lion prides in South Africa over the years.
According to Richardson’s website, lions are being heavily hunted in Africa, and their numbers and habitat are dwindling dangerously low.
“The lion population in Africa now occupies less than 20% of its former range. Depending on who is asked, the number is estimated to be between 15,000 and 30,000,” according to the website. “On its own, this is concerning. If the current rate of decline continues, there will be no wild lions in as little as 20 years.”