A Tokyo zoo said three of its lions died from apparent heatstroke, the first time in the park's 62-year history that extreme heat was associated with lion deaths.
The deaths came as summers grow hotter and more dangerous.
What happened?
According to International Business Times, the trouble began at Tama Zoological Park in Hino, where keepers noticed the lions were sluggish and lost their appetites July 18. By July 22, 10 of the zoo's 16 lions were being treated, and some could no longer stand or had lost consciousness.
As the animals' conditions worsened, the zoo halted access to the lion exhibit and suspended the Lion Bus service. Mugi, a 3-year-old, died July 28; Ichigo, 11, died Friday; and Luena, 15, died Sunday. The zoo said all three lionesses had been born there.
Examinations after death showed severe dehydration and multiple organ failure. The zoo said more testing was needed before causes of death could be confirmed, but the heat stress was suspected.
In the second half of July, Tokyo temperatures rose to nearly 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 degrees Fahrenheit), and indoor parts of the enclosure were reportedly around 30 C (86 F).
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Why does it matter?
Lions are native to Africa's hottest regions. But heat does not affect every environment or animal the same way. Lions are generally adapted to dry heat, as they can rest in the shade and avoid the most intense temperatures, while Tokyo's humidity makes it harder for animals to cool themselves.
Worsening extreme weather also threatens people's lives and livelihoods by increasing heat-related illnesses; straining public health systems; endangering community safety; and driving up the costs of emergency response, cooling, infrastructure upgrades, and lost productivity.
The zoo has drawn criticism from animal rights campaigners, who note that captive animals cannot simply relocate when conditions become dangerous. In the wild, lions can move freely, seeking different shaded areas and reducing their activity.
The country's weather agency this year introduced a new 40 C (104 F) category to mark extreme heat, implementing the term "cruelly hot day," which supersedes its previous "extremely hot day" threshold for temperatures over 35 C (95 F).
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What's being done?
Keepers responded with water sprays, fans, medication, and intravenous fluids in an effort to help the sick lions. Several surviving lions have improved, though others were still receiving treatment, IBT reported.
Tama Zoological Park was adding spot air-conditioning units to indoor holding areas while it reassessed its hot-weather response procedures. The lion exhibit was to remain closed, and keepers were monitoring other species more closely as the heat continued.
The episode could push zoos across Japan to reconsider whether cooling systems designed for older climate patterns are still sufficient. Better ventilation, more shaded spaces, emergency cooling plans, and closer heat monitoring may all become increasingly important.
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