Three lions die in zoo as Japan battles extreme heat

Three female lions at a Tokyo zoo have died of suspected heat-related illness, as Japan battles punishing summer temperatures. The three lions died within a week at the Tama Zoological Park in western Tokyo. Autopsies show that the lions, aged three to 15, had suffered from dehydration and multiple organ failure - suggesting heat was the cause, said the zoo. "This is the first time we've experienced anything like this. Last year was also hot, but none of our lions fell ill like this," Miwa, Kosaka, a zoo representative, told the BBC. Japan's summers are getting hotter and more dangerous, with some cities seeing several "cruelly hot days" - a term used for days when temperatures rise above 40C. According to Tama Zoo, Mugi, a three-year-old female lion, had a loss of appetite on 19 July and was unable to stand up the next day. Zoo staff provided ventilation and water to cool her down, and later administered subcutaneous fluids, liver tonics and vitamins. But she ultimately died on 28 July. Ichigo, an 11-year-old female lion, died days later on 31 July. Luena, a 15-year-old female lion, died on Sunday. Autopsies show systemic dehydration and multiple organ failure in all three lions,