After the recent incident in Sancti Spíritus where a baboon escaped from its enclosure and prompted the mobilization of special troops, veterinarians, and agents from the Ministry of the Interior, the organization Bienestar Animal Cuba (BAC-Habana) urged the Cuban population on Thursday to refrain from visiting the country’s zoos.
“Each entry is a signature of support for mistreatment,” the animal rights group noted in a lengthy message published on their Facebook account, where they invited reflection on the living conditions of animals in captivity.
"Have you ever imagined yourself inside a cage? (…) In Cuba, where obtaining food is already a challenge for people, what do you think the animals are going through?" the organization questioned, emphasizing that many zoos lack food, medication, and the minimum conditions necessary to keep their specimens alive.
The text, accompanied by a call to civic awareness, denounces that thousands of animals live caged, malnourished, and without veterinary care, and that escapes like that of "Víctor," the baboon from Sancti Spíritus, highlight a system of systemic mistreatment.
“Víctor doesn't need superficial compassion; he needs justice. And justice means understanding that no animal deserves to live this way. If we can't close the zoos today, there's something we can do: not visit them,” the collective wrote.
The group described Cuban zoos as "spaces of normalized suffering" and reminded that many animals are imported from natural ecosystems such as the African savanna or tropical jungles, only to live confined in rusty cages under unsuitable climates.
"Each visit legitimizes a model that has been destroying lives for decades. Do not be part of the abuse. Do not visit them. Never again," the message concludes.
The statement from BAC-Habana comes after a more than four-hour operation in Sancti Spíritus to capture “Víctor,” a sacred baboon that managed to escape from its cage during the early hours of Wednesday.
Although the animal was recaptured unharmed, the incident exposed the vulnerability of the facilities and the stress that captive species endure, reigniting the debate about the role of zoos in the country and the conditions in which their animals live.
In this context, the call from BAC-Habana arises, an organization that in recent years has stood out for being a fervent advocate for animal rights.
That is why he insists that civil society can help alleviate animal suffering by refusing to consume entertainment that relies on confinement and advocating for animal welfare policies that replace the exhibition model with genuine conservation spaces.
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