Residents of the Cuban province of Las Tunas reported the severe state of malnutrition of two lions from the local zoo, which can barely stand and have their ribs and bones visibly protruding, in a cramped enclosure with rusty bars.
The photographs were sent to the independent platform NiO Reporting a Crime by a citizen, who reported the serious difficulties that animals face in finding food.
The images show a male—with a slight mane—and a female, both seemingly unable to move normally, in a space that is visibly dirty and lacks the minimum conditions for their welfare.
The platform made a direct appeal to the Cuban authorities: "If the state does not have the food, resources, medicines, specialized personnel, and facilities necessary to ensure a dignified life for these animals, it must seek alternatives."
Among those alternatives, the publication demands that the evaluation of animals be conducted by international organizations specialized in animal welfare and that, if necessary, their transfer to accredited sanctuaries or reserves be facilitated through legal and veterinary procedures.
"It’s not just about donating them to anyone," clarified the profile.
The case is neither new nor isolated. Just three days ago, a resident from Tunera posted that it's sad to visit the provincial zoo not only because there are two or three malnourished animals, but also because there is hardly anyone there. The transportation crisis in Las Tunas prevents families from planning to take their children, even though the kids are on summer vacation.
In February 2026, the organization Bienestar Animal Cuba (BAC) had already reported abandonment and hunger at the zoo in Puerto Padre, also in the province of Las Tunas, where the lions showed visible signs of malnutrition, were on cement, and had limited access to water. Local authorities did not issue a public response at that time.
The first documented complaint about this zoo dates back to September 2020, when animal rights activists alerted that the lions were starving and pointed out an alleged diversion of the meat intended for their feeding. Six years later, the situation is repeating itself.
The problem extends to other provinces. In April 2026, extreme abandonment of lions at the Camagüey zoo was reported, which led to the so-called "Operation Leo": the nighttime transfer of the lion "Panchito" from the municipal zoo of Florida, Camagüey, to the Ciego de Ávila zoo, where he is currently receiving veterinary care and enhanced feeding.
Days before this new report, a zebra was spotted roaming the streets of Calabazar, in Havana, an incident that once again brought public attention to the situation of Cuban zoos, although there is no official confirmation regarding the animal's origin.
Cuba lacks a modern animal protection law and an independent body to oversee the welfare of animals in captivity.
In November 2025, the organization Bienestar Animal Cuba formally requested permission to visit and evaluate the country's zoos, with no official positive response reported.
"The hunger of a caged animal is particularly cruel: it completely depends on those who decided to keep it in captivity," concluded NiO Reportando Un Crimen. "They cannot speak out. We can do it for them."
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