Health
BROAD COVERAGE
Three lions at Tokyo's Tama Zoo die amid extreme summer heat
Three lions at Tama Zoological Park in Hino, western Tokyo, have died from suspected heat-related causes, officials said.
The metropolitan government reported that three of the 16 lions kept at Tama Zoological Park succumbed to severe dehydration and organ failure during a heat wave. Illness signs appeared in other lions earlier in July, prompting treatment for ten of them by July 22. Zoo staff employed fans, water sprays and medication, but the three animals could not be saved, leading to a suspension of the lion exhibit.
Why it matters
It shows how rising temperatures can threaten animal welfare in captive settings.
In this story
lion deathsheat wavedehydrationorgan failurezoo exhibit suspensionanimal welfareTokyo zoo