Three lionesses have died at Tama Zoo near Tokyo in the past week. According to preliminary reports from veterinarians, the cause was heat stroke caused by the abnormal heat and high humidity that have hit Japan.
At Tama Zoo, located west of Tokyo, three lionesses have died in recent days. According to preliminary data from veterinarians, the cause of their deaths was heat stroke. Several other large cats are under constant observation by specialists, as reported by Entrevue.
Since mid-July, signs of overheating — loss of appetite and lethargy — have appeared in ten of the sixteen lions kept at the zoo. The first lioness died on July 28, the second on July 31, and the third on August 2.
According to veterinarians, the animals exhibited severe dehydration and signs of multiple organ failure, indicating possible heat stroke.
Zoo representatives note that, despite the lions' origins from hot regions of Africa, the high humidity of the Japanese climate is much harder for them to tolerate than dry heat. The situation was exacerbated by a sudden increase in temperature right after the rainy season ended.
In response to the situation, the administration has intensified measures to protect the animals: additional irrigation is being conducted in the enclosures, ventilation is being improved, local air conditioners are being installed, and the remaining lions are being monitored around the clock.
Not only animals are suffering from the abnormal heat. According to Japanese authorities, around 18,600 people were hospitalized with heat stroke in just one week from July 20 to July 26. Another 45 people died before or shortly after arriving at hospitals. On average, heat causes about 1,300 deaths annually in the country.
The incident at the Tokyo zoo serves as another reminder that extreme weather conditions related to climate change pose a serious threat not only to humans but also to animals, even those traditionally considered adapted to hot climates.
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