Three Lions Perish From Heatstroke Amid Tokyo's Extreme Heat
WHO:
CNN - Three lions at the Tama Zoological Park in Tokyo.
Phys.org - A spokeswoman from the zoo.
WHAT:
[06:53 AM EDT] - CBS News - The Tama Zoological Park closed its lion exhibit until further notice due to health problems among the lions.
[06:53 AM EDT] - CBS News - The heat wave in Japan has led to the longest recorded streak of temperatures reaching at least 40 degrees Celsius for five consecutive days in late July.
[06:53 AM EDT] - CBS News - The zoo reported that four remaining lions are recovering, while three others are still unwell and undergoing treatment.
[06:53 AM EDT] - CBS News - The heat has caused mass losses of livestock in South Korea, with more than 493,000 animals having died since late May.
[06:53 AM EDT] - CBS News - Ten of the 16 lions in Tama Zoological Park have suffered symptoms such as "loss of appetite and decreased activity" since mid-July.
[06:53 AM EDT] - CBS News - Close to 18,600 people were taken to hospitals for heatstroke between July 20 and 26, with 45 of them pronounced dead on arrival.
[06:53 AM EDT] - CBS News - A woman in her 70s died of suspected heatstroke as she sheltered in her car, and the temperature in Kumamoto City hit a record 40.3 degrees Celsius.
[06:53 AM EDT] - CBS News - According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, 34 locations nationwide have hit temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or higher this summer, breaking the record set last year.
[06:53 AM EDT] - CBS News - Average temperatures in western Japan during mid-to-late July were the highest since recordkeeping began in 1946.
[06:53 AM EDT] - CBS News - Japan experiences about 1,300 heat-related deaths annually and is aiming to halve that number by 2030.
CNN - Three lions died from suspected heat stress within a week.
CNN - A total of ten lions received treatment for health problems.
CNN - The lions showed signs of dehydration and multiple organ failure.
CNN - The three lions that died were a three-year-old female named Mugi, an 11-year-old female named Ichigo, and a 15-year-old female named Luena.
CNN - One woman in her 70s died in her car of suspected heat stroke.
WHERE:
CNN - Tama Zoological Park, Hino city, greater Tokyo metropolis.
CNN - Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.
CNN - South Korea, specifically Yangsan and parts of Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.
WHEN:
CNN - Mugi died on July 28; Ichigo died three days later; Luena died on a Sunday following Ichigo's death.
CNN - The heat wave began earlier in the month of July.
CNN - The highest temperature recorded in Yangsan was 42.5 degrees Celsius on a Sunday.
WHY:
[06:53 AM EDT] - CBS News - The spokeswoman from the zoo stated that the heat "arrived suddenly" this summer after the rainy season ended in late July.
CNN - The deaths of the lions were attributed to heat stress amid extreme temperatures.
CNN - Japan experienced record-breaking temperatures due to a “Super El Niño” weather event.
HOW:
[06:53 AM EDT] - CBS News - The zoo is strengthening measures against the heat by sprinkling water, improving ventilation, and installing spot air conditioners.
CNN - The zoo attempted to cool the lions with water sprays, industrial fans, intravenous fluids, and medication.
CNN - The country’s weather agency introduced a new designation for days reaching 40 degrees Celsius, termed “cruelly hot day.”
(UPDATED August 4, 2026 17:38 UTC)
The Tama Zoological Park has closed its lion exhibit until further notice due to health issues affecting the lions, with four recovering while three others are still undergoing treatment. This comes amid a severe heat wave in Japan, which has resulted in the longest recorded streak of temperatures reaching at least 40 degrees Celsius for five consecutive days in late July, and has also caused significant livestock losses in South Korea, with over 493,000 animals reported dead since late May. In response to the extreme heat, the zoo is enhancing its measures by sprinkling water, improving ventilation, and installing spot air conditioners to help the animals cope.
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(UPDATED August 4, 2026 12:43 UTC)
In Japan, ten of the sixteen lions at Tama Zoological Park have shown symptoms like loss of appetite and decreased activity since mid-July, coinciding with a severe heatwave. During the week of July 20 to 26, nearly 18,600 people were hospitalized for heatstroke, tragically resulting in 45 fatalities, including a woman in her 70s who died while sheltering in her car as temperatures soared to a record 40.3 degrees Celsius in Kumamoto City. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that 34 locations across the country reached temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or higher this summer, breaking last year's records, while average temperatures in western Japan during mid-to-late July were the highest since recordkeeping began in 1946.
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(UPDATED August 4, 2026 07:41 UTC)
At Tama Zoological Park in Tokyo, three lions have tragically died from suspected heat stress within a week, with the zoo reporting a total of ten lions receiving treatment for health issues related to dehydration and organ failure. The deceased lions include a three-year-old female named Mugi, an eleven-year-old female named Ichigo, and a fifteen-year-old female named Luena, as Japan faces record-breaking temperatures due to a “Super El Niño” weather event. In response to the extreme heat, which has even led to the introduction of a new designation for particularly hot days, the zoo attempted to cool the lions using water sprays, industrial fans, and intravenous fluids.