It’s So Hot in Japan That Zoo Animals Are Dropping Dead
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Record-breaking temperatures in Japan have resulted in the tragic death of several zoo animals, prompting questions about the suitability of their living conditions in the face of climate change. On Monday, Tokyo's Tama Zoological park revealed that three female lions—Mugi, Ichigo, and Ruena—had succumbed to suspected heat-related illness within five days.
Initial autopsies indicated the lions had experienced systemic dehydration and multiple organ failure before their demise. The zoo attributed their deaths to heat stress.
Japan endured its first "cruelly hot day" in late July due to a historic heatwave, which saw temperatures soar above 104 degrees Fahrenheit in many regions. Tokyo's average daily temperature that month was a scorching 90 degrees Fahrenheit, feeling like 110 degrees due to humidity. This extreme heat warranted the creation of a new term—"kokushobi"—by the meteorological agency to describe the sweltering conditions.
Between July 20 and 26, approximately 18,600 individuals across Japan were hospitalized for heatstroke, with 45 fatalities. Despite a brief respite, the heatwave persisted, prompting the Environment Ministry to issue a heatstroke alert for most of western and southern Japan this Wednesday. The extreme heat is not solely detrimental to humans; captive animals are also struggling to survive.
At Tama Zoo, Mugi, a three-year-old lion, exhibited signs of appetite loss mid-July and died on July 28 after failing to stand. Ichigo, 11, passed away three days later, while 15-year-old Ruena succumbed two days after Mugi. Four other lions displaying symptoms of illness are now recovering, while six who appeared healthy throughout the ordeal remain unaffected.
Experts suggest that high humidity, in addition to the extreme heat, hampers the lions' ability to cool down effectively. Lions typically regulate their body temperature through panting, but this mechanism is less efficient in humid conditions. Zookeepers recommend providing ample shade, deploying cooling pads, and misting animals with water during such intense heatwaves.
At his Big Cat Sanctuary in England, a zookeeper implemented a similar strategy by offering lions frozen blood-based popsicles to aid cooling. The Tama Zoo has since suspended its lion exhibit, with no reopening date announced.
Written by urgent.news from Futurism's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
