The National Zoo of Cuba will reopen to visitors on next Wednesday, after being closed due to the lack of basic services amid the energy crisis the country is experiencing.
The institution reported this Sunday on Facebook that the power supply had been restored and ensured that the animals were not affected.
"Our animals are in perfect physical condition and under the constant care of our team," the institution stated.
The announcement comes just days after it announced its indefinite closure due to the lack of electricity and water, a decision that raised concerns on social media about the conditions in which the over 1,500 animals housed at the facility in Boyeros, Havana would remain.
On that occasion, no date was provided for the reopening. Now, the center has confirmed that electricity was restored on Saturday and has scheduled the reopening to the public for Wednesday.
The institution also apologized for the inconvenience caused during the temporary closure and thanked the visitors for their understanding.
The news was received with relief by many users who had been following the situation at the zoo with concern.
Thank goodness, Excellent news, and How great were some of the reactions after it was announced that electricity had been restored and that the animals were doing well.
In the comments, there were also those who linked the solution to the impact that the closure had on social media.
"The power of the Internet" and "Social networks are wonderful," some wrote, while another user remarked that "it was achieved thanks to everyone who shared" the situation.
But alongside the celebrations, new criticisms and demands emerged. Some called for a permanent guarantee of care and protection for the animals, while others rejected the idea that visitors should bear the responsibility of maintaining the facility through donations, arguing that this responsibility belongs to state institutions.
Other issues at the park also came to light, such as trash at the main entrance, the limited food options for visitors, and concerns about the water supply.
"If yesterday I saw a post stating that they had no water or electricity, I don't know who to believe anymore."
The situation at the National Zoo comes after a summer in which several Cuban parks faced numerous complaints and criticisms regarding the feeding of the animals, the deterioration of the facilities, and the lack of resources.
In July, a report raised concerns about the conditions of a lion at the Florida zoo in Camagüey, which was exhibiting extreme thinness and was kept in a deteriorating cage.
The activist who reported the case stated that the animal had gone a long time without food.
The alarm was raised again in August, when residents reported the serious state of malnutrition of two lions at the Las Tunas zoo.
Days later, one of the specimens died after being attacked by the other, amid reports that they had gone nearly two weeks without receiving any meat.
Soon after, cases of animals showing signs of malnutrition were also reported at the Watkin Park in Matanzas, where the deteriorated condition of lions, monkeys, and other species was highlighted.
At the end of August, another report highlighted the deterioration of the zoo integrated into the Parque de los Sueños in Santiago de Cuba, with almost all its cages empty, few species visible, and a notable lack of visitors during the summer season.
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