Three lions at Tokyo's Tama Zoological Park died from suspected heatstroke during a record-breaking East Asian heatwave

Three female lions at the Tama Zoological Park in Tokyo died within a week due to suspected heatstroke, as Japan faces punishing summer temperatures. The lions, named Mugi, Ichigo, and Luena, suffered from dehydration and multiple organ failure caused by high humidity and a sudden spike in temperatures. Zoo officials stated that while lions are generally heat-resistant, the high humidity of the Japanese summer differs from the dry heat of Africa. To mitigate the heat, the zoo provided water sprays, industrial fans, and intravenous fluids to the animals. Four other lions are currently recovering, while three remain unwell and are undergoing treatment. This heatwave is part of a broader regional trend, with South Korea reaching record temperatures of 42.5 degrees Celsius. The World Meteorological Organization warned that a strong El Niño cycle is expected to intensify global temperatures, potentially causing more frequent and intense extreme weather events worldwide.

Sources

• BBC
  Three lions die in zoo as Japan battles extreme heat
• CNN
  Three lions die in Tokyo as record-breaking temperatures hit East Asia
• CBS News
  3 lions die at Tokyo zoo from suspected heatstroke as Japan bakes in "cruelly hot" summer
• Al Jazeera
  Three lions die in Tokyo zoo as heatwave scorches East Asia