Major import from Namibia » Havana Zoo

Major import from Namibia
14-07-2012

The National Zoological Park in Havana has arranged an import with the government of Namibia, to transfer 148 animals donated by the national government.
Animals to be imported include lions, elephants, rhinos, cheetahs, leopards, buffalos, hyenas, honey badgers, porcupines, kudu, bat-eared foxes, ostriches and white-backed vultures.
The first shipment is due in October.

BBC News - Nambian-Cuban 'Noah's Ark' plan criticised

15-07-2012

Namibia allowed Africam Safari zoo of Puebla, Mexico to move 9 young elephants to their park. But africam is an AZA accredited institution with high international standards. Cuban zoos are a different matter. But cuba has given strong aid programs to many african nations. Cuban doctors, vets, health specialists work throughout africa, i have met some in Havana and they are dedicated people. I found the havana zoo very depressing by the way. But i am not certain if it is the same zoo mentioned.

22-08-2012

This BBC article mentions some of the preparations for import:

BBC News - Cuba zoo gets ready for Namibian wild animals

22-08-2012

I think it's vile. No excuse for taking this many wild animals and making them captive. No excuse for ever taking a wild animal and making it captive unless it is in danger or injured or the species is critically threatened.

If improving the gene pool at Cuba is the issue then they have to do what other zoos do - get standards up enough so they can become an accepted part of international breeding programmes.

Cuba either need to do it the right way or not run a zoo at all. Wild animals are not to be used as diplomatic bargining chips in this way.

Full stop this is horrible and wrong.

01-11-2012

The first animals will arrive in a shipment of 20 species to arrive in mid-November and will include brown hyena.
The second shipment in March 2013 will include 5 African elephants and 10 rhino of both black and white species.

Cuban zoo gets gift of African animals from Namibia | Fox News Latino

04-11-2012

Why do you feel this way? Do you believe that it is wrong to keep animals in captivity? And, if so, where would you draw the line? For example, how would you feel about the moving of ungulates to 'ranches' in places such as Namibia and South Africa? For example, http://www.umphafa.com/. Your response suggests that this is a very black and white issue - and i'm not sure that it is!

04-11-2012

I could not agree more!
It is all about money and in striking contrast to all conservation efforts in
Africa.

BBC News Havanna, 21.8.2012, Cuba Zoo gets ready for...:
"The park wants to attract more foreign tourists and their hard currency."
(no wonder they are looking for private investors)

Havanna Times, 25.4.2012, The Santiago de Cuba Zoo:
"Unfortunately the passing of time (sic!) and the inability to replace some of these specimens has meant many of the younger generation being unable to enjoy these."
A visitor from Vermont commenting:
...thanks for bringing back fond memories of our family's visit to Santiago Zoo in 2004.
I remember the chimpanzee who had been taught to smoke a cigar! Perhaps he has subsequently died of lung cancer.

17-03-2013

That import is a huge mistake, it is not the first one an African nation has done to Cuba. First it was Congo, Angola, now Namibia. It has been more than 50 years of pure failure in keeping healthy (and life) captive exotics in Cuba.

It is very sad that these animals will have the same fate of the others in the past.