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Havana, September 23 — Despite a severe crisis, veterinarians and zookeepers are working tirelessly to keep Cuba's National Zoo alive and protect its nearly 1,000 animals, including rare species like white rhinos, jaguars, and tigers. Staff members travel to the 345-hectare park by bicycle, pedal scooter or electric motorbike, due to a nine-month-long US fuel blockade that has crippled public transportation. Yoel Machado, the zoo's animal welfare manager, said the workers ensure the animals receive food and water daily.

The zoo plays a crucial role in species conservation, serving as a genetic reserve for vulnerable and endangered species. However, the same crisis that has left workers scrambling for resources has forced the zoo to limit reproduction programs and rely on donations to sustain its animals. Angel Cordero, the veterinarian responsible for big cats, said the tiger cubs at the zoo "could be in better shape" and needs to ration their food to prevent it from running out.

Private donors have come to the rescue, with Cuban-American Ana Fernandez donating meat every Monday. However, the zoo faced 23 days without electricity recently, leaving staff without running water. Despite these challenges, the zoo's director, Juan Carlos Corella, revealed that they found solutions, such as water trucks and daily food provision for the animals.

The crisis has also forced the zoo to slow down its breeding programs, as each new offspring requires more resources. Machado, the animal welfare manager, prefers to ensure the current population is well cared for. Despite these hardships, the zoo continues to welcome new arrivals, such as baby tigers, hyenas, jackals, and a black dromedary named Esperanza, the first of its kind born in Cuba in three decades.