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 announced his passing and highlighted a career spanning decades dedicated to research, conservation, and the study of arachnids.
Alayón was born on December 5, 1946, in San Antonio de los Baños.
Graduated in Biological Sciences, specializing in Entomology, from the University of Havana in 1973, he published his first scientific work while still a student.
In 2000, he obtained his doctorate from the same institution.
He worked at the Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba and at the National Enterprise for the Protection of Flora and Fauna before joining the National Museum of Natural History in 1988, where he served as curator of Arachnids for almost four decades.
According to the institution, its work has helped transform that collection into one of the most important in the Caribbean.
Their list of spiders from 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 led the Arachnological Project of Yucatán from 1993 to 1995 and was the principal investigator of the scientific expedition conducted in 1999 to Navassa Island, where several new species were identified.
His academic output included 106 scientific articles and 64 outreach papers.
In addition, he taught 21 courses and delivered 132 conferences, participating in more than 50 scientific events. Between 1995 and 2001, he served as president of the Cuban Society of Zoology.
His work transcended laboratories and scientific collections. Between 1978 and 1983, he hosted Vida Silvestre, identified by the museum as the first program in 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 restoration of the Ariguanabo River in his hometown of San Antonio de los Baños.
Among the recognitions received throughout his career is the title of Illustrious Son of San Antonio de los Baños, awarded in 2001, and the Juan Tomás Roig Medal, granted in 2005.
Radio Ariguanabo also mourned his death and remembered him as "one of its brightest sons," 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 an “exemplary man, excellent entomologist and arachnologist,” while another recalled his willingness to assist younger researchers and referred to him as a leader in taxonomy, biodiversity, and scientific culture.
Among the farewells, a story from the scientific expeditions he participated in also emerged: an old colleague recalled that Alayón humorously requested, “Please call me 'Spider-Man'.”
His passing occurs during a time marked by the loss of other figures in Cuban culture and science.
This Wednesday, the unexpected death of actor and broadcaster Ronny Mayo was announced, just days after completing the recording of his latest radio project.
Furthermore, last Monday, María Elena Llorente Duarte, the principal dancer and maître of the National Ballet of Cuba and recipient of the National Dance Award 2015, passed away in Havana at the age of 80.
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