A visit to Havana's Zoo on 26th Avenue, shared on Facebook by user Litle Lo La, has sparked discussion and comments on social media. Her humorous yet critical account highlights the current state of one of Cuba's most renowned zoos. "We had been warned with unfavorable reviews and a chorus of 'Don't go there unless you're crazy!' But since I'm not crazy, just a bit psychiatric, I said: let's suffer, but with our own eyes," the young woman wrote as she recounted her tour through the dilapidated facilities.
She noted that the visit started "from the end" and mentioned that the pond, which once housed crocodiles, now showed no trace of these creatures, not even a "croc." Regarding the hippo, she sarcastically mentioned waiting 30 minutes for it to emerge, quipping, "He must be more fed up than people in line for a Ticket."
The Cuban visitor observed that instead of animals, she found an impromptu fair with exorbitant prices: "A yoyo for 1000 pesos and a merry-go-round driven by human power, not mechanical, at 100 pesos per ride." As for the animals on display, she said they could be counted on both hands: "3 flamingos, 1 camel, various cows, bulls, deer, 5 monkeys, 3 'frisky' turtles, 1 hyena, 2 squirrels sneaking into the raccoon cage, 2 jaguars, a brown bear in one pit, and in the other... a chicken."
She even mentioned the snake's cage was empty, only to later find the serpent at the entrance of a private park offering photos with tourists. The biggest letdown came when her daughter anticipated hearing the lions roar: "My grandfather used to say that long ago, you could hear their roar from miles away. I told my daughter, let's hear them roar... I approached the pit and shouted at the lion: Mufasaaaa, give me a grrrr. The lion looked at me with a rotten melon by its side and said: 'A what? Ridiculous!'"
This narrative, a blend of satire and complaint, underscores the decline of one of Havana's primary recreational venues and reignites the debate over the condition of Cuba's zoos, where scarcity and neglect affect both visitors and animals alike. In several provinces, Cubans have reported the extreme conditions faced by animals in recreational parks. On August 4th, another complaint emerged about the historic Zoo on 26th Avenue, highlighting the dilapidated state of its facilities, with dry ponds, dirty cages, visibly malnourished animals, and an overwhelming stench.
"If there's nothing for Cubans, what can there be for the animals? This is genocide," lamented a zoo worker, whose statements were featured in a post on La Tijera's Facebook page. Other parks are also deteriorating. The National Zoo recently closed some of its facilities and just announced the reopening of the crocodile lake after a comprehensive sanitation and restoration process that, according to the government, allowed the reintroduction of the specimens into their habitat.
FAQs on Zoo Conditions in Cuba
What sparked the debate about the Zoo on 26th Avenue?
The debate was sparked by a Facebook post from a visitor, Litle Lo La, who shared a humorous yet critical recount of her experience at the zoo, highlighting its deteriorated state.
What were some of the conditions reported at the Havana Zoo?
Reported conditions included dry ponds, dirty cages, malnourished animals, and an overwhelming odor, with many of the expected animals missing or replaced by makeshift attractions.
How is the government responding to the zoo's condition?
The government claims to have undertaken a comprehensive sanitation and restoration process, recently reopening the crocodile lake at the National Zoo.