In a tragic incident at a Japanese zoo, lions have succumbed to what is believed to be heatstroke during an unprecedented heatwave. Three lionesses, aged three, 11, and 15, passed away at Tama Zoological Park in Hino, Tokyo, last week. The Tokyo metropolitan government and the Tokyo Zoological Park Society confirmed the deaths.
Following a post-mortem examination, it was discovered that the lions suffered from severe dehydration and organ failure. The exact cause of their deaths is pending confirmation until the laboratory results are available. Out of the zoo’s 16 lions, ten required medical attention as temperatures soared in mid-July.
Some of the lions were immobilized by the scorching heat, prompting staff to employ fans, cold water sprays, and medication to cool them down. Despite efforts to save the animals, the conditions worsened, leading to the closure of the lion enclosure to the public on July 23. While veterinary professionals worked tirelessly to treat the lions, unfortunately, three lions succumbed to the extreme heat, with one female and two males still under treatment.
Japan experienced temperatures exceeding 40°C for five consecutive days until July 25, marking the lengthiest stretch of such intense heat since records began. The severe weather conditions prompted Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency to declare it a disaster, a classification typically reserved for earthquakes and typhoons.
During the period from July 20 to 26, around 18,600 individuals were hospitalized for heatstroke in Japan, with 45 fatalities upon arrival, as reported by the agency. A zoo spokesperson emphasized that while lions are considered heat-resistant, the zoo had been enhancing measures to combat Japan’s summer heat in recent years.
The spokesperson noted the difference in heat in Japan, which comes with high humidity as opposed to the dry heat of Africa. Moreover, they highlighted the sudden onset of heat this summer following the end of the rainy season in late July.
