- 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.
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