Japan's record-breaking heatwave has claimed the lives of three female lions at Tama Zoological Park in Tokyo, with veterinarians suspecting heatstroke after autopsies revealed dehydration and multiple organ failure. Several other lions remain under treatment, with some unable to stand as zoo staff race to cool the animals using industrial fans, portable air conditioners and water sprinklers.
Experts say Japan's intense combination of extreme heat and high humidity makes it difficult for lions to regulate their body temperature, despite their natural adaptation to Africa's hot climate. The sudden arrival of severe heat after the rainy season may also have prevented the animals from acclimatising.
The crisis comes as Japan experiences one of its harshest summers on record, with temperatures reaching 40°C in some regions and more than 43,000 people hospitalised for heat-related illnesses. Authorities continue to issue nationwide heat warnings as the country struggles with the escalating impacts of extreme weather.
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