The renowned Cuban zoologist, arachnologist, naturalist, and conservationist Giraldo Alayón García, regarded as one of the most prominent figures in the zoology of Cuba and the Caribbean, passed away this Thursday, September 24, at the age of 79.
The National Museum of Natural History of Cuba reported his passing and highlighted a career spanning decades dedicated to the research, conservation, and study of arachnids.
Alayón was born on December 5, 1946, in San Antonio de los Baños.
Graduated in Biological Sciences, with a specialization in Entomology, from the University of Havana in 1973, he published his first scientific work while still a student.
In 2000, he/she obtained his/her doctorate from that same institution.
He worked at the Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba and at the National Company for the Protection of Flora and Fauna before joining, in 1988, the National Museum of Natural History, where he served as curator of Arachnids for nearly four decades.
According to the institution, its efforts allowed this collection to become one of the most important in the Caribbean.
His list of spiders in Cuba, published in 1994, became a reference for the study of these animals on the island.
Alayón described around 95 species and genera, mostly endemic to Cuba.
He also directed the Arachnological Project of Yucatán from 1993 to 1995 and served as the principal investigator for the scientific expedition to Navassa Island in 1999, where several new species were identified.
His academic production included 106 scientific articles and 64 outreach papers.
Additionally, he conducted 21 courses and 132 conferences and participated in more than 50 scientific events. Between 1995 and 2001, he presided over the Cuban Society of Zoology.
His work transcended laboratories and scientific collections. Between 1978 and 1983, he led Vida Silvestre, identified by the museum as the first program on Cuban radio dedicated to environmental issues.
In his final years, he presided over the Ariguanabo Foundation, where he promoted actions against the illegal trafficking of wild birds and projects related to the recovery of the Ariguanabo River in his hometown of San Antonio de los Baños.
Among the honors received during his career are the title of Illustrious Son of San Antonio de los Baños, granted in 2001, and the Juan Tomás Roig Medal, awarded in 2005.
Radio Ariguanabo also mourned his passing and remembered him as "one of its brightest sons," also highlighting his work as a researcher, teacher, and defender of nature.
The news sparked numerous reactions among scientists, former colleagues, students, and people who worked alongside him.
One of them described him as a "model man, excellent entomologist and arachnologist", while another recalled his willingness to assist younger researchers and referred to him as a benchmark in taxonomy, biodiversity, and scientific culture.
Among the farewells, there was also an anecdote from the scientific expeditions he participated in: an old colleague recalled that Alayón humorously requested, “Please, call me 'Spider-Man'.”
His passing occurs during days marked by the loss of other figures from Cuban culture and science.
This Wednesday, the unexpected death of actor and broadcaster Ronny Mayo was announced, just a few days after completing the recording of his latest radio project.
Moreover, last Monday, María Elena Llorente Duarte, prima ballerina and master of the National Ballet of Cuba, passed away in Havana at the age of 80. She was also the recipient of the National Dance Award in 2015.
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