TOKYO: Three lions have died from suspected heatstroke at a zoo in Tokyo, while several others are receiving treatment after showing signs of illness linked to Japan’s intense summer heat and humidity.
According to Tama Zoological Park, 10 of its 16 lions have experienced symptoms including loss of appetite and reduced activity since mid-July. Three lionesses died over the past few days — an 11-year-old on Friday, a 15-year-old on Sunday, and a three-year-old on Tuesday.
The zoo has temporarily closed its lion enclosure, where visitors are usually taken on zebra-striped safari buses, until further notice.
“According to our veterinarian, the cause of the deaths is suspected to be heatstroke” because dehydration and multiple organ failure were observed, a spokeswoman said.
She explained that although lions are generally considered capable of tolerating high temperatures, Japan’s humid climate presents different challenges than the dry heat of Africa.
“Even though lions are thought to be resistant to heat, zoo keepers have been strengthening countermeasures to cope with Japan’s summer heat in recent years. Heat here comes with high humidity; that is different from heat with dry air in Africa,” she said.
The spokeswoman added that temperatures rose rapidly after the rainy season ended in late July.
“We are strengthening measures against the heat (further), sprinkling water, improving ventilation and installing spot air conditioners,” she said.
Several lions remain under veterinary care.
Animal rights organisation PETA criticised the conditions in which the animals lived.
The lions named Mugi, Ichigo and Luena “were born, lived, and died in confinement, deprived of everything that makes life worth living for a wild animal”.
“Zoos are not rescues or sanctuaries; they exist to display animals for profit, not to put animals’ needs first,” PETA said in a statement.
