Three lionesses die from heatstroke at Tokyo Zoo

Three lionesses died at a Tokyo zoo due to an apparent heatstroke, a situation exacerbated by the high humidity characteristic of the Japanese summer. A spokesperson for the facility confirmed the deaths on Tuesday.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of extreme weather patterns in Japan, which recorded its hottest summer on record last year. Recent weeks have seen parts of the country continue to experience intense heat, contributing to the environmental conditions cited in the animals' deaths.