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Four Bengal tiger cubs were born at the National Zoo of Cuba, including an extremely rare white specimen, an event that the caretaker Ángel Cordero described as "a small miracle" amid the severe crisis facing the institution.
The birth was highlighted this Monday by the agency Reuters, which depicted the contrast between the arrival of the new cubs and the daily challenges of a zoo that barely receives a quarter of the fuel needed to operate.
Cordero, who has been working at the facility for 44 years, witnessed the birth and did not hide his emotion.
"It's only the second time that white tigers have been born in Cuba. And I was there to witness it," he stated.
The first birth of a white tiger in the zoo occurred in March 2021, when four Bengal tiger cubs were also born. The occurrence of this event amid the country's economic decline makes this birth even more remarkable.
The white tiger is not a distinct subspecies but a rare genetic variation of the Bengal tiger caused by a recessive gene. It is estimated that there are fewer than 200 individuals worldwide, almost all in captivity, and wild populations are unknown.
The good news arrives as the zoo struggles to care for hundreds of animals under increasingly difficult conditions. As Cordero explained, the institution requires about 20 liters of diesel daily to transport food for species such as buffaloes, zebras, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and large felines, but it only receives five liters.
The lack of fuel has forced workers to cover the 375 hectares of the park using horse-drawn carriages and electric tricycles.
"It all depends on the fuel. The movements of the animals and the distribution of food, which must be transported by vehicle; there is simply no other way," explained the caretaker.
The director of the National Zoo, Juan Carlos Santos, previously stated to Reuters that, despite the limitations, the animal population has remained stable thanks to the efforts of the staff and the support of small private companies that supply some essential supplies.
The difficulties faced by the park reflect the energy crisis that Cuba is experiencing. The shortage of fuel and prolonged power outages have impacted the functioning of numerous state institutions. This year, the National Botanical Garden closed its doors after running out of the necessary diesel to operate, while the zoological park in Camagüey reported cases of abandonment and severe malnutrition of several lions.
Amidst this backdrop, the National Zoo also celebrated the birth of a dromedary, the first in nearly three decades.
For the workers, the arrival of the four cubs —and especially the rare white tiger— represents much more than a breeding success: it is an unexpected sign of hope in a place that struggles daily to survive amidst the crisis.
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