Three lions have died of suspected heatstroke at Tokyo’s Tama Zoological Park amid Japan’s record-breaking hot summer, officials said on Tuesday, August 4th, 2026. The zoo suspended its lion exhibit on July 23rd after 10 of the 16 big cats showed signs of heat-related distress, including loss of appetite and decreased activity, according to a spokeswoman who spoke to Agence France-Presse.

Despite treatment, three lionesses succumbed to the extreme temperatures—one died on Tuesday, another on Friday, and a third on Sunday. The zoo’s veterinarian suspects heatstroke as the cause of death, noting dehydration and multiple organ failure in the animals.

The spokeswoman explained that summer heat arrived suddenly after the rainy season ended in late July. Although lions are generally considered heat-resistant, the zoo has been strengthening cooling measures in recent years to help animals cope with Japan’s hot and humid summers, which differ from the dry heat lions experience in Africa.

Authorities continue to boost animal welfare efforts to manage the impacts of climate-fueled extreme weather.

Sources