A video shared on Facebook by Pedro Llanes reveals the current dismal condition of the Colón micro zoo in Matanzas: cages that are now entirely empty, overrun with weeds, heaps of garbage, and crumbling walls where animals once lived, delighting generations of Cuban families as a recreational venue.
“How could something so beautiful be allowed to deteriorate into this horror-movie scene?” Llanes remarks during his walkthrough. “Now, weeds and trash are the only things adorning this place,” he adds.
While he observed the empty cages, Llanes expressed a bittersweet relief. “Those animals were slowly starving to death. I watched them waste away,” he noted.
The video has garnered over 73,600 views, stirring reactions among viewers.
Llanes expresses sorrow over the state of a place that once brought joy to countless people: “This is the reality of a failing system. The zoo is a reflection of the people, the streets, and life here. May God bless and free Cuba.”
The Consequence of Neglect
The current situation at Colón Zoo is the outcome of years of neglect and mismanagement.
Back in August, Daylin Cardona from the Huellas de Amor Project revealed on Facebook that her organization had been sending photos to the Ministry of Agriculture in Matanzas for six months, documenting the dire conditions of the animals. The authorities' only response was to shut down the zoo, yet the animals remained trapped inside.
“We were told that the two lions killed each other. They tore each other apart. Can you fathom knowing they died because there weren’t even facilities to separate them? Like gladiators, in their own filth, both dead. Because no one intervened,” she wrote.
Voices of Outrage and Calls for Change
Activist Adriana Piña Herrera, who chronicled the zoo’s state for eight months through photos, testimonies, and an official complaint, was equally vocal: “The closure was a mere band-aid. A signature. A ‘that’s it.’ But the animals didn’t understand paperwork. They understood hunger and confinement,” she stated on Facebook.
In December 2025, activists had already highlighted the inhumane conditions, describing the cages as “slow torture cells.” The Municipal Ministry of Agriculture replied that it didn’t have the jurisdiction to enforce changes.
Such patterns are seen across Cuba. In August, a lion killed another in Las Tunas after going over 13 days without meat, with the provincial government acknowledging the incident as “unacceptable.”
That same month, new reports emerged about extreme malnutrition among lions at the Watkin Park in Matanzas. The Cárdenas Zoo, also in Matanzas, is now little more than a rubble field, its land allocated for housing.
Failure to Enforce Animal Welfare
Despite Cuba having the Animal Welfare Decree-Law No. 31 since 2021, activists argue its enforcement in state facilities has been virtually non-existent.
Understanding the Deterioration of Cuban Zoos
What is the current state of the Colón Zoo in Matanzas?
The Colón Zoo in Matanzas is now in a state of severe disrepair, with empty cages overgrown by weeds, piles of trash, and deteriorating walls, reflecting years of neglect and mismanagement.
How have activists responded to the zoo's conditions?
Activists, including Daylin Cardona and Adriana Piña Herrera, have been vocal about the dire conditions, using social media to highlight the issues and criticize the lack of effective action from authorities.
Are there any laws in Cuba addressing animal welfare?
Cuba has the Animal Welfare Decree-Law No. 31, enacted in 2021, but its enforcement in state-run facilities has been criticized as practically nonexistent by activists.