Three lions die in zoo as Japan battles extreme heat

Three female lions at Tokyo’s Tama Zoological Park have died of suspected heat‑related illness as Japan grapples with extreme summer heat. The three lions died within a week at the zoo’s western Tokyo facility. Autopsies revealed that the animals, aged three to fifteen, suffered from dehydration and multiple organ failure, indicating heat as a likely cause, according to zoo officials. “This is the archetypal clip we've experienced thing similar this. Last twelvemonth was besides hot, but nary of our lions fell sick similar this,” Miwa, Kosaka, a zoo representative, told the BBC. Japan’s summers are becoming hotter and more perilous, with some cities recording numerous “cruelly blistery days” – the term used for when temperatures climb above 40 °C. Tama Zoo reported that Mugi, a three‑year‑old female lion, lost appetite on 19 July and was unable to rise the following day. Staff provided ventilation, water, subcutaneous fluids, liver tonics and vitamins, but Mugi died on 28 July. Ichigo, an 11‑year‑old female lion, died on 31 July. Luena, a 15‑year‑old female lion, died on Sunday. Autopsies showed systemic dehydration and organ failure in all three lions, suggesting heat stress played a role. The zoo said definitive causes await further test results. There are three lions – two males and one female – that remain unwell and unable to stand, the zoo said in a Monday statement, adding that staff are administering fluids, medication and vitamins to the animals. “Some of the lions are showing signs of improvement,” Kosaka told the BBC. The zoo also noted that four lions have shown signs of recovery, while six were healthy from the outset. Those animals will be moved to a rear enclosure fitted with portable air‑conditioners and fans. Hideaki Karaki, professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Tokyo, told local media that high humidity hinders lions’ ability to regulate body temperature. He explained that, instead of sweating, lions take heavy breaths to expel moisture from their airways; when the moisture evaporates, body temperature drops. However, in high humidity the lions’ temperatures cannot fall sufficiently, he said. Another factor could be the abrupt temperature spike in mid‑July, leaving the animals insufficient time to acclimate, Karaki added. Tama Zoo houses roughly 260 taxa of animals. Its lions have been a key attraction since 1964, bred and exhibited continuously. The zoo’s website notes it offers a safari‑style bus service for visitors to view the lions in their enclosure. Tama Zoo announced last week that it would suspend its lion grounds and lion bus service due to the “sudden heatwave” making the lions ill. More than 43,000 people across the country have been hospitalized for heatstroke this summer alone. The government has issued heat warnings and urged residents to take steps to stay cool, including encouraging office workers to ditch formal attire for breezier outfits. Additional reporting by Chie Kobayashi.