Staff at Cuba’s National Zoo are struggling to care for nearly 1,000 animals during a crisis that has left many people struggling to find food and other essentials.
Due to fuel shortage, workers are having difficulty in reaching the 345-hectare park, 20 kilometres from Havana. Many now travel by bicycle, scooter or electric motorbike to ensure the animals receive food and water.
The zoo is an important international conservation centre, home to vulnerable and endangered species, including rhinos, hippos and jaguars. But shortages of meat, medicine and water have taken a heavy toll. Food is being rationed as meat becomes harder to obtain, while power cuts lasting up to 30 hours make food storage even harder.