One of the two lions at the Las Tunas Zoo died on Monday afternoon after being attacked and killed by the other specimen, amidst claims that the animals had gone about two weeks without receiving meat.
The tragedy was confirmed by the Facebook profile El Palacio de las Mascotas, a page dedicated to animal welfare, in a post that sparked a wave of outrage among Cubans both on the island and abroad.
“Yesterday afternoon, one of the lions attacked the other, and the worst happened. One of the large felines died after going more than 15 days without meat, when they should consume 7 kg daily,” the post detailed.
Representatives from Bienestar Animal Cuba (BAC) Las Tunas who were at the zoo shared even more shocking details in a live video from the facility.
According to their explanation, one of the lions killed the other. Both had been at the zoo since 2013 and, according to their report, had gone 13 days without eating. Activists pointed out that each specimen needed to consume about six kilograms of food per day and stated that the surviving lion had slashed the throat of the other.
The surviving specimen became so aggressive after the attack that the staff had significant difficulties removing the corpse.
The body was finally buried.
The zoo acknowledged that it has no way to feed them
According to BAC Las Tunas, the zoo does not have its own means to obtain meat and relies on other entities for supply.
The venue only accepts cash payments, a circumstance that, according to the complainants, further complicates the supply.
According to BAC Las Tunas, the cages have not received any repair or maintenance since 2019.
The released images show rusty bars, a dirt floor covered with dry leaves, and animals with visibly protruding ribs, under conditions that witnesses described as "deplorable."
According to BAC Las Tunas, only after the incident did the government order the sending of a cow to feed the surviving animal.
“As a result of what happened, the government allegedly ordered that they should be given a cow. And yesterday the cow appeared, after the incident took place,” stated the representative of BAC Las Tunas.
Just days before the death, other images already showed the two felines with extreme malnutrition and their ribs showing.
The reaction on social media: outrage and a reflection of the crisis
The comments mixed sorrow for the animals with direct criticism of the Cuban regime and its institutions.
“At this moment, Cuba has nothing for the people, let alone for animals”; “If people are starving, what is left for the animals?”, commented two internet users.
Another internet user described the situation as “the decline of a country that is not functioning in any of its areas” and added: “This is criminal.”
Niurka Ileana Cruz Gómez questioned the effectiveness of current legislation: "Where is the animal protection law that was approved?"
Many users requested the relocation of the surviving animals to sanctuaries abroad.
The Palacio de las Mascotas concluded its publication with a phrase that encapsulates the stance of those who speak out: “They cannot speak. We can speak for them.”
A story of abandonment that goes back a long way
This tragedy is not an isolated incident.
The reports regarding the lions at the Las Tunas zoo date back to September 2020.
In February 2026, BAC reported abandonment and hunger in the same facility again.
The crisis is spreading to other facilities across the country. In April 2026, extreme neglect was reported in Camagüey, which subsequently led to the "Operation Leo" and the transfer of the lion "Panchito" to the Ciego de Ávila zoo.
Cuba has had the Animal Welfare Decree-Law No. 31 since 2021, but repeated reports from activists have called into question its effective implementation in state facilities.
In November 2025, the Animal Welfare Cuba organization formally requested permission to assess the country's zoos but did not receive a positive official response.
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