Related videos:
The animal rights organization Huellas al Rescate reported the post of a man who displayed dozens of jicoteas crammed together in poor conditions in Las Tunas for their alleged sale, which sparked a wave of outrage among activists and users.
The nonprofit organization shared this Friday on its Facebook page the screenshot of the announcement posted by a man identified as Amaury González in the group Revolico Puerto Padre.
The image shows dozens of turtles crowded into a small space with stagnant water and lacking minimum conditions of hygiene or space, a situation that has been described as concerning and potentially constitutive of animal mistreatment.
The organization reminded that jicoteas are part of Cuba's wildlife and that capturing, possessing, and commercializing them without authorization is illegal in the country.
"Animals are neither merchandise nor objects. They deserve respect, protection, and dignified treatment," stated the group dedicated to rehabilitating homeless animals with the aim of finding them responsible adoptive families, with locations in the municipalities of Puerto Padre, Delicias, Menéndez, and Las Tunas.
He also warned that keeping these animals in conditions of suffering could violate the Animal Welfare Decree-Law in effect in Cuba since April 2021.
Huellas al Rescate urged the person involved to reach out to the organization to provide explanations and seek a responsible solution for the animals.
In the event of no response, the group stated that it will forward the evidence to the relevant authorities, including the Forest Rangers and the agencies responsible for enforcing animal welfare regulations.
The publication sparked numerous reactions on social media, where several users expressed outrage and demanded penalties for those who mistreat or trade in wild animals.
Some comments directly pointed to the possible intention of selling the jicoteas, while others questioned the lack of effective enforcement of animal protection laws in the country.
"If that decree were actually enforced, this image and animal mistreatment in Cuba would not exist," wrote a user, reflecting a recurring sentiment among activists and citizens who find the institutional response to these cases inadequate.
The episode once again brings to the forefront the debate surrounding the treatment of jicoteas in Cuba, a species that frequently appears in reports of illegal capture, informal trade, or use in religious rituals.
Just a few days ago, the Cuban veterinarian José Ibrain Venereo Jiménez moved thousands of social media users by sharing a video in which he .
The young man claimed to have invested more than 14,000 Cuban pesos to acquire them, with the intention of rehabilitating them and eventually returning them to their natural habitat.
Cases like this have contrasted with other recent reports of animal abuse on the island, ranging from rituals involving the sacrifice of jicoteas to the deterioration of state facilities such as the National Aquarium of Cuba, where activists have raised concerns about inadequate conditions for wildlife.
In this context, the new report released by Huellas al Rescate once again highlights a growing concern among civil society sectors regarding the actual protection of animals in Cuba and the apparent impunity with which these situations continue to occur.
Filed under: