3 lions die at zoo as Japan bakes in "cruelly hot" summer
Ten of the 16 lions in Tama Zoological Park have suffered symptoms such as "loss of appetite and decreased activity" since mid-July, and three lionesses died, the zoo said.
Three lions at Tama Zoological Park in Tokyo have succumbed to suspected heatstroke, while others are receiving medical attention as Japan endures its most intense summer on record. The big cats have been battling high humidity, a factor different from the dry heat experienced in Africa, according to a spokeswoman. Japan, which experienced its hottest summer in 2022, witnessed temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in recent weeks, earning the country the new term "cruelly hot day."
This extreme heat led to thousands of people being hospitalized, with over 18,600 cases of heatstroke reported between July 20 and 26, resulting in 45 deaths. The Tama Zoological Park has closed the lion enclosure to the public until further notice, citing the cause of the deaths as heatstroke, as observed by veterinarians. The spokeswoman attributed the sudden onset of the heat to the end of the rainy season in late July.
Despite the zoo's efforts to combat the heat through water sprays, industrial fans, and administering intravenous fluids, several lions remain under treatment. Animal rights group PETA condemned the lions' confinement, stating they were "born, lived, and died in confinement, deprived of everything that makes life worth living for a wild animal."
The zoo is ramping up measures to mitigate the heat, including sprinkling water, improving ventilation, and installing spot air conditioners. Meanwhile, Japan experienced 34 locations reaching temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or higher this summer, surpassing the previous record set last year, while average temperatures in western Japan during mid-to-late July were the highest since 1946.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
