Three lions die and three more critically ill at Tokyo's Tama Zoo amid record heat

Three lionesses at Tama Zoological Park in western Tokyo died between July 28 and August 2 from severe heatstroke. The victims were a 3‑year‑old named Mugi, an 11‑year‑old named Ichigo and a 15‑year‑old named Ruena. Autopsies showed extreme dehydration and multiorgan failure caused by Japan’s unprecedented high‑temperature, high‑humidity summer.

The zoo’s remaining three lions – two males and one female – are now in critical condition. Staff moved them to an indoor enclosure equipped with portable air‑conditioners and are administering intravenous fluids in an effort to stabilise them. The feline exhibit has been sealed to protect the rest of the colony, which originally numbered 16 individuals.

Veterinarians and keepers report that other species, such as a male giraffe and red pandas, are also showing signs of heat stress. The park has installed shade structures, cooling fans and air‑conditioned rooms to mitigate the extreme weather, which experts say exceeds the animals’ natural ability to thermoregulate in humid conditions.