Three lions die of suspected heatstroke at Japan zoo
Since mid-July, 10 of the 16 lions in Tama Zoological Park have suffered symptoms such as "loss of appetite and decreased activity", and three lionesses died, the Tokyo zoo said in a statement.
· CNA · JoinRead a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
TOKYO: Three lions from a Tokyo zoo have died from suspected heatstroke, and others are under treatment, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday (Aug 4), with the big cats struggling with high levels of humidity.
Japan sweltered through its hottest summer on record last year and parts of the country have hit 40°C in recent weeks, qualifying for the new designation "cruelly hot day", with thousands of people hospitalised.
Ten of the 16 lions in Tama Zoological Park have suffered symptoms such as "loss of appetite and decreased activity" since mid-July, and three lionesses died, the zoo said in a statement.
One three-year-old female died on Tuesday, another aged 11 died on Friday, and the third on Sunday, aged 15.
CNA Games
Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time
Buzzword
Create words using the given letters
Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser
Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge
Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
Show More
Show Less
The Tama Zoological Park said the lion enclosure, where visitors can normally be driven around in zebra-pattern "safari" buses, was closed to the public until further notice.
"According to our veterinarian, the cause of the deaths is suspected to be heatstroke", as dehydration and multiple organ failure were observed, a spokeswoman told AFP.
"Even though lions are thought to be resistant to heat, zookeepers 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 said the heat "arrived suddenly" this summer 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 are still being treated, she added.
"PROFITS"
Animal rights group PETA said 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.
Close to 18,600 people were taken to hospital for heatstroke between Jul 20 and 26, with 45 of them pronounced dead on arrival, according to the fire and disaster management agency.
Japan experiences about 1,300 heat-related deaths annually and is aiming to halve that number by 2030.
Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events in Japan and elsewhere.
Its highest recorded temperature was registered on Aug 5, 2025, at 41.8°C in Isesaki, north of Tokyo.
Authorities have adjusted the timings of a string of cultural and sporting events in recent years because of the heat, including the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, which held its last summer edition last weekend.
Newsletter
Week in Review
Subscribe to our Chief Editor’s Week in Review
Our chief editor shares analysis and picks of the week's biggest news every Saturday.
Newsletter
Morning Brief
Subscribe to CNA’s Morning Brief
An automated curation of our top stories to start your day.
Sign up for our newsletters
Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox
Get the CNA app
Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Get WhatsApp alerts
Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app