A heat wave is sweeping across East Asia, causing record-breaking temperatures in Japan and South Korea. Three lions at a Tokyo zoo died from suspected heat stress, and thousands of livestock have perished in South Korea.
Heat-Related Deaths
The Tama Zoological Park in Tokyo closed its lion exhibit after several big cats showed health problems, including loss of appetite and fatigue. Despite efforts to cool them down with water sprays and industrial fans, a three-year-old female lion, Mugi, died on July 28, followed by 11-year-old female Ichigo and 15-year-old female Luena.
In South Korea, the heat wave has caused mass losses of livestock, with over 493,000 animals dying, including pigs, poultry, and fish. At least 16 people have died from heat-related illnesses, and more than 2,000 have suffered heat-related illnesses.
Extreme Weather Event
The heat wave is attributed to a "Super El Niño" weather event, which is expected to strengthen in the coming months, increasing the likelihood of above-normal temperatures across much of the world. The World Meteorological Organization has warned of potentially dire implications for extreme weather events worldwide.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
