The death of three lions at a Japanese zoo, possibly due to the heat, drew criticism from animal rights organizations, reported today by international media outlets.
“This tragedy is a stark reminder that zoos can never provide wild animals with the control and freedom they need to protect themselves,” said the animal rights group PETA in a statement sent to the news agency EFE.
These statements came after Tama Zoo, located on the outskirts of Tokyo, reported on Monday the deaths of three of its lions, which had shown symptoms such as loss of appetite and fatigue for several days.
In a statement, the zoo explained that several lions began to show signs of weakness from July 18 and, on July 22, the number of affected animals had reached 10.
“The cause of death will not be determined until the results of the tests are available; however, the results of the pathological autopsy revealed generalized dehydration and multiple organ failure in the three lions, suggesting that thermal stress was a contributing factor,” the institution explained.
Japan experienced a severe heat wave in mid-July, which between July 13 and 26 left at least 59 dead and thousands hospitalized, with several cities recording temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.
In its statement, Tama Zoo said that of the 10 affected lions, three remain very weak and unable to stand, while four have recovered or are showing signs of recovery. The other six lions residing at the zoo never exhibited signs of illness.
