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Moved by the fear that the wind would destroy the nest, a young man from Santiago decided to protect two baby zunzúns before the arrival of Hurricane Melissa to the province.
The young man identified as Oskar A. Bernal shared this Wednesday in the Facebook group SALBA (Santiagueros for Animal Welfare) that he is caring for two rescued zunzún chicks from a tree in his house in Santiago de Cuba, a story that stands out as a beacon of hope amidst the distress experienced by his fellow citizens following the devastating passage of Hurricane Melissa through the east.
"I am taking care of a pair of zunzún chicks that were in a nest in a tree at my house, and out of fear that something might happen to them, I cut the little branch where the nest was and placed it inside a cage where the chicks are well taken care of, and I make sure they have enough food," the young man wrote in his post.
Bernal assured that the mother of the chicks did not abandon her young, and that she has even grown accustomed to their presence.
"Her mother has become very trusting and gets close to us because she has realized that we are taking care of her young ones," she added.
The young man reported that he feels "peace" when protecting the little zunzunes and promised to return them to their natural habitat once Hurricane Melissa has passed and the situation returns to normal.
Oskar A. Bernal's action was praised on social media, with users highlighting his gesture as an example of sensitivity and commitment to Cuban wildlife, especially as Santiago de Cuba braces for the impacts of Hurricane Melissa.
Some even advised him to arrange that family of zunzunes in the patio of his house, so they could have a happy home there forever.
The actions of Oskar A. Bernal take place in a context where activists and animal advocates have already warned about the urgent need to protect wildlife in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.
Social media initiatives were launched to provide temporary shelter for pets, birds, and vulnerable animals that could be at risk during the weather event.
Days earlier, several animal protection groups, as reported in this urgent petition for shelter for at-risk animals, called on the public for supportive assistance to take in dogs, cats, and other species, especially in the eastern provinces, where the greatest impact of the cyclone was anticipated.
These actions aimed to prevent abandonment and the preventable deaths of living beings often overlooked in the midst of emergencies.
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