Three lions at a Tokyo zoo died within a week of suspected heat stress, as extreme temperatures sweep across Japan and other parts of East Asia.
The Tama Zoological Park, located in Hino city in the greater Tokyo metropolis, closed its lion exhibit in late July when several of their big cats started showing health problems including loss of appetite and fatigue, the zoo said in a news release.
Their symptoms coincided with a heat wave that had begun earlier in the month, as a “Super El Niño” weather event gains momentum and raises global temperatures.
The zoo tried to cool down the affected lions with water sprays and industrial fans, as well as delivering intravenous fluids and medication, it said.
A total of ten lions received treatment –– but a three-year-old female lion, Mugi, died on July 28. Three days later, 11-year-old female Ichigo died; then on Sunday, 15-year-old female Luena.
