Three lions die of suspected heatstroke at Tokyo zoo as Japan swelters
Three lions have died from suspected heatstroke at Tokyo's Tama Zoological Park during an unusually hot and humid summer. The zoo is implementing emergency cooling measures as several other lions continue to struggle with the extreme weather conditions.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the growing impact of climate change on animal welfare in urban environments and the challenges zoos face in protecting non-native species from extreme weather.
One of the Tama Zoological Park lions that has died of suspected heatstroke. Photograph: Tama Zoological Park One of the Tama Zoological Park lions that has died of suspected heatstroke. Photograph: Tama Zoological Park Japan Three lions die of suspected heatstroke at Tokyo zoo as Japan swelters Most of the zoo’s 16 lions have struggled to cope with high humidity this summer
Prefer the Guardian on Google Three lions from a Tokyo zoo have died from suspected heatstroke and others are undergoing treatment, a spokesperson said on Tuesday, as the big cats struggle in Japan’s high levels of humidity.
Japan sweltered through its hottest summer on record last year and parts of the country have hit 40C in recent weeks, qualifying for the new “cruelly hot day” designation .
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