The Provincial Government of Las Tunas denied this Wednesday that one of the lions at the zoo in that city had killed the other to eat it, although they acknowledged that the animals went several days without receiving food and deemed what happened as "unacceptable."
In an informative note published on Facebook, the authorities admitted that "nothing justifies that the animals were left unfed for so many days" and questioned why the situation was not communicated in a timely manner to the relevant authorities, even though the case went viral on social media.
The statement asserts that, although the zoo is not directly subordinated to the Provincial Government, the Tunera administration has responsibilities for "control and oversight" of the facility since it is located within its territory.
After learning about the situation, the authorities confirmed that they established communication with the organization to which the zoo belongs and requested its presence in the province to conduct "the appropriate analyses and evaluations."
They also indicated that coordination was carried out with supplying organizations for the delivery of food for the lions and other species at the facility.
The official version specifically addressed the death of one of the two felines, an incident that sparked strong criticism after activists reported that the animals had gone for several days without receiving meat.
The Government acknowledged that one lion attacked the other and caused its death, but denied that it did so with the intention to feed on it.
"It is important for the public to know that the confrontation between the lions, which resulted in the death of one of them, occurred after they were fed," the note stated.
According to the authorities, it was common for both animals to “play,” and that interaction may have ended in a deadly instinctive attack.
It is not true that he killed it to eat it, firstly, because that is not what happened, and secondly, because it is not common behavior among lions,” stated the Provincial Government.
The official explanation contrasts with accusations previously circulated by animal welfare activists.
The governmental note also acknowledged the "deterioration and impoverishment" of the zoo, although it pointed out that repairs and maintenance fall to the entity based on its own management and its ability to generate income as a Business Unit.
The Provincial Government, led by Governor Yelenys Tornet Menéndez, promised to hold individuals accountable and stated that events like this "strong>will not be tolerated".
After the death of the feline, representatives of Animal Welfare Cuba in Las Tunas confirmed that the lions had gone about 13 days without eating and noted that one attacked and killed the other.
Another post talked about more than 15 days without receiving meat products.
The complaints about the condition of the animals had begun before the fatal incident.
Days before, images showed the two lions with their ribs and bones visibly protruding, while residents and activists were raising concerns about their physical decline and the poor conditions of the facility.
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