HAVANA (Reuters) – The caretakers of the Cuban National Zoo say several species of exotic and endangered animals have taken advantage of the peace and silence caused by the coronavirus pandemic for romantic encounters that resulted in an unexpected number of offspring.
The newborns include leopards, Bengal tigers, zebras, giraffes and antelopes, a rarity that authorities attribute to the many months the zoo was closed during the pandemic, said veterinarian Rachel Ortiz.
“Although the pandemic is negative for humans, in the case of zoos it was beneficial,” Ortiz told Reuters. “Our park, in particular, has had more than 10 births of high-value, endangered species that could restore biological diversity at some point.”
Ortiz said that, during a normal year, the prying eyes of visitors to the zoo limit reproduction.
The National Zoo is a popular attraction for Cubans, with 1,473 specimens of more than 120 species, including large animals such as elephants and rhinos.
Cuba, a Caribbean island of white sand beaches and turquoise water popular with tourists, closed its borders for nearly two years amid the pandemic and imposed strict domestic quarantines to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
“Having no public in the exhibition areas, the animals are calmer,” explained Ortiz.
(By Anett Rios and Nelson Gonzalez)
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