Three lionesses die of suspected heatstroke at Tokyo zoo

Three lionesses at Tama Zoological Park in western Tokyo have died of suspected heatstroke since late July, with several other lions requiring ongoing veterinary treatment amid a severe summer heatwave. The deaths, described by zoo officials as unprecedented in the facility's 62-year history, have prompted the indefinite closure of the lion exhibit and intensified scrutiny of animal welfare in extreme weather.

The three lionesses, aged 3, 11, and 15, died on separate days: the three-year-old on July -, the 11-year-old on July -, and the 15-year-old on July -. A zoo spokesperson said postmortem examinations found severe dehydration and multiple organ failure, leading veterinarians to suspect heatstroke as the cause. The first signs of illness appeared in mid-July, with ten of the park's sixteen lions eventually showing symptoms including lethargy and loss of appetite. The lion exhibit was suspended on July 23 as the situation worsened.

Officials emphasized that while lions are native to arid regions of Africa, the combination of intense heat and high humidity in Tokyo creates a dangerous environment where the animals struggle to regulate their body temperature. A spokesperson...