Cuban caught extracting bat guano in a cave in Camagüey: What is it used for?

A Cuban citizen was caught extracting bat guano from a cave in Camagüey without the proper authorization, an act that not only violates environmental legislation but also poses a serious health risk.

The case was reported by Jorge Álvarez Álvarez, director of the Office of Environmental Regulation and Safety of Cuba (ORSA), who informed on the social media platform X that the inspection carried out by the Cuban Forest Rangers and ORSA detected the offender in the act of illegal activity.

"This citizen, in addition to violating environmental legislation, is exposing themselves to diseases. The established penalties were applied," the official detailed.

The fact illustrates that, in the face of the worsening economic crisis in Cuba, people are forced to seek any alternative to obtain financial resources, even putting their health at risk.

Bat guano, primarily composed of accumulated dung in caves, is a highly valued fertilizer for its richness in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, essential elements for agriculture.

In some cases, it has also been used in the manufacture of gunpowder due to its high nitrate content.

Although its extraction has beneficial uses, contact with these waste materials poses a risk to human health, as it may contain fungal spores that cause serious respiratory diseases, such as histoplasmosis.

Additionally, unregulated activity can disrupt the cave ecosystem, affecting sensitive species, including bat colonies that play a key role in environmental balance.

Amid the deep economic crisis that Cuba is facing, citizens have found unusual ways to generate income, from selling hair to selling stew on the streets.

In Santiago de Cuba, the sale of natural hair has reached astonishing prices, with hair bundles sold for up to 300,000 Cuban pesos. This phenomenon reflects not only the scarcity of resources but also the need to obtain quick money in a context of uncontrolled inflation. Many people have resorted to cutting and selling their hair as a means to cover basic expenses or family emergencies.

On another note, in Santiago de Cuba, a man has started selling pea stew on the street, which is quite uncommon on the island. The vendor's cry, offering the hot dish to passersby, has become an unusual sight that highlights the population's desperation for access to basic food items. With the constant blackouts and shortages of gas and electricity, many people see this option as a way to ensure a meal without the need to cook at home.

Moreover, the crisis has especially affected children, who are increasingly forced to contribute financially to their families. In Havana, two siblings have been seen selling candies on the streets to help their grandmother. Their dream is to save enough money to buy a bicycle that would make their journey to school easier. This image of minors working has become common throughout the country, a reality that contradicts the official narrative that child labor does not exist in Cuba.

These situations are compounded by illegal and dangerous activities such as clandestine mining, which has spread to different provinces, including Las Tunas. Illegal gold extraction not only poses a risk to those who engage in it but also causes serious environmental damage due to the use of highly polluting chemicals. Despite the authorities' attempts to curb these practices, the lack of job opportunities forces many Cubans to risk engaging in illicit activities to survive.

These stories reflect the ingenuity, desperation, and resilience of Cubans in the face of an unrelenting crisis. With an economy in freefall and no short-term prospects for improvement, the population continues to seek means of survival that were once unthinkable.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bat Guano Extraction in Cuba