New Life at Cuban National Zoo Amid Crisis
For Ángel Cordero, a Cuban zookeeper, witnessing four Bengal tiger cubs playing at the Cuban national zoo is a remarkable event on an island grappling with severe shortages of fuel, medicine, and frequent power outages.
The birth of these endangered big cats, including a notably rare white tiger cub, has reinvigorated the zoo staff, Cordero said.
“It’s only the second time” white tigers have been born in Cuba, he said, gleaming with pride despite the heat and strain of dealing with seemingly endless problems. “And I was there for it.”
Cordero, who has served at the zoo for 44 years, has observed decades of hardship on the island. However, he describes the current conditions following the ongoing crisis as an unprecedented challenge for the lion and tiger enclosures he helped construct.
Fuel Shortages Impact Animal Care
The zoo requires 20 litres of diesel fuel daily to distribute food to its diverse animal population, which includes buffalo, zebras, rhinoceroses, and hippopotamuses. Currently, the staff receives only a five-litre daily allotment, significantly less than needed for adequate feeding and maintenance.
Juan Carlos Santos, the zoo director, informed that despite the energy crisis, the animal population has remained stable due to the dedication of zoo workers and new collaborations with small private businesses that supply essential resources to sustain the animals.
Adapting to Limited Resources
Zoo workers like Cordero have adapted by using horse-drawn carriages and electric tricycles to navigate the extensive 375-hectare (926-acre) zoo grounds, as they cannot fully procure the fuel required to operate motor vehicles.
“Everything relies on fuel,” said Cordero. “The animals’ movements, and the distribution of food (such as in the African savannah enclosure), which must be transported on wheels; there is simply no other way.”
Potential Economic Reforms Offer Hope
Officials have indicated that recent economic reforms, if implemented, could transition Cuba’s socialist economy toward a free-market model. Such changes might revitalize zoo operations by attracting foreign investment, fostering scientific exchange, and providing access to new supplies.
