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Cuban animal rights activists criticized the official newspaper Granma for publishing an article attempting to whitewash the National Aquarium of Cuba, in Havana.
“It is a great lack of respect that, while our association and thousands of people have joined our denunciation of the critical situation facing the National Aquarium of Cuba, the newspaper Granma comes out to whitewash the image of this institution,” reads a Facebook post from BAC-Habana (Bienestar Animal Cuba)
Animal rights advocates expressed disappointment that the state media prefers to "beautify reality with publications that omit the suffering of animals and the deplorable conditions in which they find themselves" instead of "listening to what thousands of citizens are denouncing on social media."
"Every time our voice reaches millions of views, the state media responds with articles that attempt to divert attention, never to acknowledge what is really happening inside these facilities, but to disguise it. Why is it so difficult to recognize the truth? Why is it so hard to call things by their name? Why is it easier to hide than to confront, correct, and improve?" they complained.
"The country needs transparency, respect, and humanity towards animals. What we are asking for is not silence or media manipulation, but urgent, real, and responsible measures," they concluded.
The BAC post refers to an article that highlighted that "Beyond showcasing living marine organisms and promoting environmental education for the care, conservation, and rational use of resources and species in that environment, the National Aquarium of Cuba ventures into the field of research."
Criticism of the National Aquarium
This Saturday, a Cuban mother brought attention to a troubling situation on social media regarding the severe deterioration and neglected conditions she observed at the National Aquarium, where she claimed to have witnessed scenes of cruelty and animal suffering in front of her helpless child.
“Families, I say this from the heart: we left with more sadness than joy. My son was incredibly excited… and we ended up with our souls shattered,” the woman wrote in a testimony shared on the Facebook page of the user La Tijera, which quickly went viral on social media.
The visitor reported that there are no shows, performances, or educational activities, only silence, neglect, and animals in evident suffering.
"The seal they keep there... you can see in its eyes that it wants to leave Cuba more than we do. My child used to say to me: 'Mom, rescue her, she's all alone.'"
According to their description, the turtles have broken shells and swim in green water, a small shark moves aimlessly in a narrow tank, and the fish tanks are in ruins, with peeling walls and a nauseating smell.
"That's not environmental education or children's entertainment; it's torture," she concluded.
The testimony was confirmed by BAC, which described the situation at the Aquarium as "profoundly sad" and reported that the facilities "are in a deplorable state."
The group indicated, through a message on their Facebook page, that despite the shortcomings, the venue continues to charge full admission to visiting families.
BAC requested the management of the National Aquarium to take urgent measures to improve the welfare of the animals, enhance cleanliness, and ensure a dignified environment.
"We know that the economic crisis affects everyone, but a lack of resources cannot justify negligence. Caring for them is not a luxury; it is a moral duty," he emphasized.
The reports about the deplorable condition of the iconic Havana facility, once a symbol of recreation and environmental education, have been frequent in recent months.
In June, a family visit confirmed the poor condition of the facility, characterized by neglect, structural deterioration, and a clear lack of care for the marine animals that still remain in the enclosure.
At the end of August, a report broadcasted by the Canal Habana stressed that the center's top priority is the replenishment of marine life.
Considering that the population of sea turtles has drastically declined, the institution requested special permits from the Ministry of Food Industry to capture new specimens, the source reported.
A few weeks later, it became known about the arrival of two green turtles (Chelonia mydas), as part of initiatives from the “Las Mar-tinez” project, led by Jorge Félix Martínez, and in response to a collaborative effort to promote the conservation of marine species, despite the critical condition of the country's main oceanographic center.
Founded in 1960, the National Aquarium has promoted itself for over half a century as a center dedicated to scientific research and environmental education focused on the preservation of marine life.
However, testimonies from non-governmental organizations and reports from animal rights defenders have indicated that, behind that conservationist image, the facility appears to have operated as a source for the unregulated trafficking of dolphins, primarily destined for nations that maintain diplomatic relations with the Cuban government.
According to these allegations, these transactions—conducted without public environmental oversight or verifiable protocols—are said to have represented a source of foreign currency income during times of economic hardship, sacrificing the welfare of animals and operating in institutional opacity.
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