3 lions die at Tokyo zoo from suspected heatstroke as Japan bakes in “cruelly hot” summer

Three lions at a Tokyo zoo have died from suspected heatstroke and others are under treatment, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday, with the big cats struggling with high humidity. Japan sweltered through its hottest summer on record last year and parts of the country have hit 40 degrees Celsius in recent weeks, qualifying for the new designation “cruelly hot day,” with thousands of people hospitalized. Ten of the 16 lions in Tama Zoological Park have suffered symptoms such as “loss of appetite and decreased activity” since mid-July, and three lionesses died, the zoo said in a statement.

One 3-year-old female named Mugi died on Tuesday. Three days later, an 11-year-old female named Ichigo died and on Sunday, a 15-year-old female named Luena died. The Tama Zoological Park said the lion enclosure, where visitors can normally be driven around in zebra-pattern “safari” buses, was closed to the public until further notice. “According to our veterinarian, the cause of the deaths is suspected to be heatstroke” because dehydration and multiple organ failure were observed, a spokeswoman told AFP. “Even though lions are thought to be resistant to heat, zookeepers have been strengthening countermeasures to cope with Japan’s summer heat in recent years. Heat here comes with high humidity; that is different from heat with dry air in Africa,” she said.

The spokeswoman said the heat “arrived suddenly” this summer after the rainy season ended in late July. The zoo said it used water sprays and industrial fans, and delivered intravenous fluids and medication to the affected lions. “We are strengthening measures against the heat (further), sprinkling water, improving ventilation and installing spot air conditioners,” she said. Several lions are still being treated, she added. “Born, lived, and died in confinement” Animal rights group PETA said the lions “were born, lived, and died in confinement, deprived of everything that makes life worth living for a wild animal.” “Zoos are not rescues or sanctuaries; they exist to display animals for profit, not to put animals’ needs first,” PETA said in a statement. Park Close to 18,600 people were taken to hospitals for heatstroke between July 20 and 26, with 45 of them pronounced dead on arrival, according to the fire and disaster management agency. A  woman in her 70s died of suspected heatstroke as she sheltered in her car, officials said Monday, public broadcaster NHK reported, and the temperature in Kumamoto City hit a record 40.3 degrees Celsius.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, 34 locations nationwide have hit temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or higher this summer, the Asahi Shimbun reported, breaking the record set last year. Average temperatures in western Japan during mid-to-late July were also the highest since recordkeeping began in 1946, the newspaper reported. Japan experiences about 1,300 heat-related deaths annually and is aiming to halve that number by 2030.

Source: 3 lions die at Tokyo zoo from suspected heatstroke as Japan bakes in “cruelly hot” summer – CBS News

For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them.
Psalm 44:3

Finding Truth and Life in Jesus

In a world filled with competing voices, confusing paths, and endless distractions, Jesus doesn’t simply show us the way He declares, ‘I am the way.’ When everything around you tries to…

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Tsunami watch triggered after 7.8 magnitude earthquake shakes southern Philippines

giant sea waves

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook part of the southern Philippines early Monday, causing damage in a key coastal city, knocking down power and sparking a tsunami warning on some regional coasts. People were urged to go to higher ground. There were no immediate reports of casualties, and it was not clear if people were trapped or injured in the collapse of a small building in General Santos city. The coastal city of more than 700,000 people is a commercial hub on the island of Mindanao known for its tuna processing industry. The epicenter was 8 miles southwest of General Santos and had a depth of 6.2 miles, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

It struck at 7:37 a.m. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said tsunami waves up to 10 feet were possible on some coasts of the Philippines. Waves up to 3 feet were possible on some coasts of Indonesia and Malaysia. “We advise people to evacuate to higher grounds or go further inland,” Teresito Bacolcol, the head of the Philippine institute, warned people living in coastal areas. Smaller sea changes were possible in Taiwan, Japan, Guam, Papua New Guinea and several island nations and territories in the western Pacific. There was no threat to Hawaii, the PTWC said. DZRH radio station in Manila reported that the small commercial building where its provincial branch was located partly collapsed and staffers dashed to the ground floor without injuries. It wasn’t clear if other people were trapped in the rubble of the four-story office building due to the quake, which struck before office hours.

Residents also felt the earthquake tremors in north-central Indonesia, and tsunami waves up to 7 inches were recorded on some coasts of North Sulawesi and North Maluku provinces. Aftershocks up to 6.5 magnitude followed, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It measured the original quake at 34 miles deep. Variations in measurements by different agencies are common in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake. The Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, is often hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the ocean.

Source: Tsunami watch triggered after 7.8 magnitude earthquake shakes southern Philippines – CBS News

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Galatians 5:17

Minor earthquake reported in southeast Ohio

A minor earthquake was logged in southeast Ohio on Monday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.  The USGS said that around 4:06 a.m., a 2.2-magnitude quake struck around seven kilometers north of New…

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Reclaiming Attention From Distractions

Pip: Drink of Jesus has been asking a question your phone’s algorithm would really prefer you not think about: what if the thing eating your attention is the distraction? Mara: That’s the thread running…

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Bear rampages through 2 factories and a residential area in Japan, injuring 4 people

majestic brown bear in autumn forest

A bear attack left four people injured in two factories and a residential area in northern Japan’s Fukushima on Tuesday, police and media reports said. A record 13 people were killed by bears in Japan last year, and there has been a jump in sightings as the animals emerge hungry from hibernation. “A bear-related human injury incident… occurred in Fukushima City, injuring four people,” the prefectural police said in a statement. The bear was first spotted in a car parts factory, prompting an emergency call explaining that “employees had been bitten,” the Yomiuri Shimbun daily reported, citing police and fire department officials. The outlet reported the bear still had not been located.

As the bear continued its rampage, two other people were injured, one in a residential area and the other on the premises of an electronic equipment manufacturer nearby, the Yomiuri said, adding that the animal was thought to have remained inside the factory. The report said one of those attacked was heavily injured, while the rest suffered only mild injuries. In the last fiscal year to March, bear sightings nationwide topped 50,000, more than double the previous record set two years earlier, according to official data. The animals have been seen on airport runways, walking on golf courses, roaming near schools and causing panic in supermarkets and hot spring resorts almost on a daily basis. A bear that rampaged through a supermarket for two days was lured out with food coated in honey, and police said the animal was trapped and later killed.

The problem was so bad that last year the U.S. State Department warned Americans in Japan to be alert for bears.  Record sightings have been reported again this year as the bears emerge from their winter slumber, according to local media. In April, bear attacks killed one person and injured five others, according to the environment ministry. There have also been more than a dozen bear sightings reported on the outskirts of Tokyo this year, with a Russian man in his 30s reportedly mauled as he hiked in the city last month. A Japanese company making ferocious-looking robot wolves is being swamped by orders after record numbers of fatal bear attacks on humans last year.

“Monster Wolf” is an animatronic scarecrow with flashing red eyes that howls and growls menacingly to scare away wild animals.  Scientists say the surge in attacks has been driven by fast-growing numbers of bears, combined with a falling human population, especially in rural areas.

Source: Bear rampages through 2 factories and a residential area in Japan, injuring 4 people – CBS News

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33

God as Your Ever-Present Help

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North Korea fires 10 suspected ballistic missile towards Sea of Japan, Seoul says

historic kochi castle in springtime japan

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s office has asked authorities to ensure the safety of aircraft, vessels and other military assets. It has also called for deploying all measures for precaution, including readying contingencies

Source: North Korea fires 10 suspected ballistic missile towards Sea of Japan, Seoul says – Firstpost

By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:11

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Severe storms in weather forecast for Maryland Thursday, drier Friday

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Firefighters rescue 5 kittens from house fire in Spokane

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2 manatees rescued after beaching near New Smyrna Dunes Dog Beach

Two manatees beached near New Smyrna Dunes Dog Beach have been returned to the Indian River in New Smyrna Beach. A viewer told News 6 the manatees first beached themselves around 2 p.m. Witnesses say they began reaching out to wildlife authorities and marine rescue organizations at that time. “We sent a crew down to…

Marking ten years since the 2011 Japan earthquake

Japan

Fifteen years ago, on March 11, 2011, the fourth-largest recorded earthquake in history struck Japan’s Pacific Coast, triggering a 128-foot tsunami wave that swallowed villages whole and triggered the biggest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Nearly 20,000 people died, 500,000 were forced to evacuate, 138,000 buildings were destroyed, and the country suffered the most expensive disaster in human history, with $360 billion in economic losses, according to a 2013 estimate from the Brookings Institution.

Source: Marking ten years since the 2011 Japan earthquake – 60 Minutes – CBS News

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

Lifeguard rescues dog at Hilton Head beach

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Two powerful earthquakes hit Indonesia in one day, killing at least 38

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday killed at least 38 people, a disaster management official said, revising an earlier toll. A second, 6.4-magnitude quake struck the country’s western Sumatra island laterm according to the U.S. Geological Survey. “Thirty-eight people have been confirmed dead, two were seriously injured, 11 sustained minor injuries, and…

Lee County waives pet adoption fees Saturday for Clear the Shelters

Lee County residents looking to add a four-legged member to the family can adopt one for free Saturday as part of the 2026 Clear the Shelters campaign. Lee County Domestic Animal Services is waiving all adoption fees Saturday, Aug. 15, during its Clear the Shelters adoption event. The shelter has dogs and cats of different…

Roman shipwreck discovered off the coast of Sicily, Italy laden with ancient jars believed to be more than 2,000 years old

Italian divers have discovered the 2,100-year-old wreck of a Roman ship off Sicily, piled high with hundreds of well-preserved ancient clay jars, known as amphorae, which were likely used to transport wine. The wreck, dubbed by Italy’s Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli as “one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years”, was found…

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Japan says a second Japanese person is detained in Iran

international flags waving against blue sky

Japan’s Foreign Ministry says a second Japanese national has been detained in Iran and requested the early release of both people

Source: Japan says a second Japanese person is detained in Iran – ABC News

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
James 3:17

Baby rescued from earthquake rubble in Colombia as death toll rises

Footage posted on social media shows a young baby being pulled alive from the rubble of a destroyed building in Colombia after a 7.-magnitude earthquake struck the country Monday. The video, posted by Brian Osorio Zuluaga on Monday night, shows a group of people combing through the rubble of a building in Cali, asking a…

Bear, 2 cubs spotted in Auburn as Placer County bear sightings continue

A mother bear and her two cubs were spotted Tuesday in Auburn, marking the latest after a string of recent bear sightings across western Placer County. The Auburn Police Department said the bears were seen near Lincoln Way and Russell Road. “A friendly reminder to our neighbors: We live in bear country! Please keep an…

Cougar spotted roaming Minnesota community

Forty miles west of Minneapolis, Howard Lake mixes water recreation with country living. But a couple weeks ago, the small town got a visit from an unexpected feline guest. A security camera captured video of what appears to be a cougar strolling through a neighborhood.  “Generally, it’s pretty quiet. People like to get out on their four-wheelers…

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