RESCUE Malnourished Lions in Cuba

Malnourished Lions languishing in Cuban Zoos

Recent reports and disturbing images emerging from Cuba have raised serious concerns about the health and welfare of lions and other big cats living in several of the island’s zoological facilities.

Some of the images are difficult to see. Animals appear severely underweight. Reports describe shortages of appropriate food, veterinary supplies and other resources necessary for their care.

But before Heart of the Wild acts, we need to know precisely what is happening on the ground.

Fortunately, we have a way to do that.

Heart of the Wild team member Andy Blue, former Associate Curator at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and former Director of San Diego’s Project Wildlife, has traveled to Cuba numerous times to assist the zoological community there. He has established relationships with animal-care professionals in Cuba, including veterinary and zoo professionals in Havana.

Those relationships may now provide an important bridge.

Our first priority is not relocation.

It is stabilization.

Animals suffering from severe malnutrition or other significant health problems cannot simply be placed into transport crates and moved thousands of miles. Their immediate nutritional, medical and husbandry needs must come first.

Heart of the Wild is therefore working toward sending a small team to Cuba to meet directly with Cuban veterinary and animal-care professionals and, if permission can be obtained, visit zoological facilities housing lions and other big cats.

We want to see the animals ourselves.

We want to speak with the people caring for them.

We want to understand what they are being fed, what veterinary resources are available, what is missing and what can be done immediately to improve their condition.

From there, we can help develop an evidence-based response to the needs of each facility and, most importantly, each animal.

Any financial assistance Heart of the Wild helps facilitate must reach its intended purpose. For that reason, we believe trusted people should be on the ground to verify needs, document how assistance is delivered and help ensure that resources intended for the animals reach them.

And then comes the longer question.

For some animals, improved care in Cuba may be the appropriate solution. For others, relocation to an accredited sanctuary may ultimately need to be considered.

Moving large carnivores internationally is complicated under any circumstances. Moving them from Cuba presents additional diplomatic, regulatory and logistical challenges. Any potential relocation would require cooperation from Cuban authorities, appropriate international permits, veterinary clearance, suitable transportation and a qualified sanctuary willing and able to provide lifetime care.

Potential destinations could include accredited sanctuaries in Central or South America, or South Africa.

But those decisions come later.

First, we need to help the animals in front of us.

That means determining what is true, identifying what they need and getting appropriate food, veterinary care and other essential resources to them as quickly and responsibly as possible.

Heart of the Wild was created to respond when animals need someone willing to cross boundaries—geographic, institutional and sometimes political—to help them.

Right now, those boundaries may lead us to Cuba.

And if we can get there, we intend to listen first, assess carefully, work collaboratively—and help.