Officials at the Camaguey Zoo complex have so far counted the loss of 10 animals from its center in the city in central-eastern Cuba, which was hit by heavy rains and flooding this weekend.
In information published in Networks Eddie George Carey, director of the agency, explained that the dead animals were nine collared peccaries and a Cape Elan. He also noted that no wild animals such as crocodiles or lions escaped as was wrongly reported on the networks during the day from Friday to Saturday.
The management of the resort reiterated that the reports circulating on social media about the crocodiles’ escape were false. In fact, the picture posted on Facebook was easily recognizable as not being on the island, but some users believed it.
How did these animals die? According to the information, in the case of collared peccaries, although they were moved to their established place, width and height, the stress caused by the situation and water invasion resulted in nine out of 33 animals drowning. After being evacuated, the animal suffered from hypothermia, the source said.
Flooding at CAMAGÜEY Zoo
According to the director, regular protocol was established at the zoo in these cases and the task of evacuating animals from low-lying areas was given. Birds too. He said that despite the casualties, there was no damage to the infrastructure of the zoo apart from some documents and materials.
After the critical hour of flooding, the zoo, which houses 766 specimens of 67 species of animals, is currently undergoing cleaning and the areas will be whitewashed as part of sanitation in the next few hours.
When the facility was renovated in 2014, according to officials, conditions were created at higher elevations for the safety of the animals as they had already experienced floods like in 2008.
