Lions at a Japanese zoo have tragically passed away due to suspected heatstroke during a severe heatwave affecting the country. The casualties included three lionesses aged three, 11, and 15 at Tama Zoological Park in Hino, Tokyo. Post-mortem examinations revealed that the lions suffered from severe dehydration and organ failure, pending final confirmation through lab results.
As temperatures soared in mid-July, ten out of sixteen lions at the zoo required medical attention. Despite efforts by zoo staff to cool the animals with fans, water sprays, and medications, some lions became incapacitated by the scorching heat. Consequently, the lion enclosure was closed to the public on July 23.
Veterinarians made strenuous attempts to save the lions, but unfortunately, three of them succumbed to the extreme weather conditions. Currently, one female and two male lions are still under treatment. Japan experienced temperatures exceeding 40°C for five consecutive days until July 25, marking the longest stretch of intense heat on record.
The relentless heat has prompted Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency to declare the weather a disaster, a designation typically reserved for earthquakes and typhoons. The agency reported that over 18,600 individuals were hospitalized for heatstroke between July 20 and 26, with 45 fatalities upon arrival.
A spokesperson from the zoo mentioned that despite lions being perceived as heat-resistant, measures to combat Japan’s summer heat have been reinforced in recent years. They emphasized the unique challenge of high humidity accompanying the heat in Japan, contrasting it with the drier heat in Africa. The sudden onset of extreme heat after the rainy season ended in late July posed additional difficulties for the zoo’s efforts to protect the animals.