Several animals at the Camagüey Zoo died in the floods; no crocodiles escaped.

Authorities at the Camagüey Zoological Park Complex reported that, to date, 10 animals have been lost at their facility due to the heavy rains and flooding this weekend in the city in central-eastern Cuba. 

In an information released in networks Social workers, Eddy Jorge Garay, director of that organization, explained that the deceased animals were nine collared peccaries and a Cape Elan antelope. He also clarified that there were no escapes of wild animals, such as crocodiles or lions, as had been misreported on social media from Friday to Saturday. 

"The news circulating on social media about the crocodile escape is false," the facility's managers reiterated. In reality, the image posted on Facebook was easily identifiable as not being on the island, but some users believed it. 

How did these animals die? According to the information, in the case of the collared peccaries, although they were moved to the designated, spacious, and high-altitude location, the stress caused by the situation and the encroaching waters caused nine of the 33 animals to drown. The antelope suffered hypothermia after being evacuated, the source stated. 

FLOODS IN CAMAGÜEY ZOO 

According to the director, the Zoo implemented the usual protocol in these cases and began evacuating animals from low-lying areas to designated locations, including birds. He added that despite the deaths, there was no damage to the Zoo's infrastructure, except for some documentation and property. 

Following the critical hours of flooding, the Zoo, which houses 766 animals of 67 species, is currently undergoing a cleaning routine, and in the coming hours, the areas will be whitewashed as part of the sanitation process.

When the facility was repaired in 2014, according to authorities, high ground conditions were created to protect the animals, as they had already experienced previous floods, such as the one in 2008.