Suspected heatstroke kills three lions at Japan zoo

TOKYO: Three lions from a Tokyo zoo have died from suspected heatstroke, and others are under treatment, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday (Aug 3), with the big cats struggling with high levels of humidity.Japan sweltered through its hottest summer on record last year and parts of the country have hit 40°C in recent weeks, qualifying for the new designation "cruelly hot day".Since mid-July, 10 of the 16 lions in Tama Zoological Park have suffered symptoms such as "loss of appetite and decreased activity", and three lionesses died, the zoo said in a statement.One passed away on Tuesday, another died on Friday, and the third died on Sunday, it said. "According to our veterinarian, the cause of the deaths is suspected to be heatstroke", as dehydration and multiple organ failure were observed, a s