Three lions die at Tokyo zoo as heatwave sweeps Japan

Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestylePeople rest at a park on a hot day in Tokyo on July 22, 2026. (AFP/Getty)Three female lions, aged three, 11, and 15, died of suspected heatstroke at Tama Zoological Park in Tokyo between 28 July and 2 August. Post-mortem examinations indicated widespread dehydration and multiple organ failure in the animals, with final confirmation awaiting laboratory results. This marks the first time the zoo, which has kept lions since 1964, has experienced such deaths, with ten of its 16 lions requiring treatment due to the extreme heat. The zoo closed its lion enclosure to the public on 23 July as the animals' condition deteriorated, with staff implementing cooling measures and medication. The deaths occurred during a summer described as a 'disaster' by Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency, with record-breaking temperatures leading to thousands of heat-related hospitalisations and dozens of deaths nationwide. In fullThree lions die of suspected heatstroke at zoo amid Japan’s ‘cruelly hot days’More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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