With a "romantic and silent" atmosphere, Cuba Zoo has an unexpected breeding of animals during the pandemic

Exotic and endangered animal species have taken advantage of the silence caused by no visitors during the pandemic to mate, according to their caretakers at Cuba’s National Zoo, resulting in Unexpected number of puppies.

Veterinarian Rachel Ortiz said the newborns include leopards, Bengal tigers, zebras, giraffes and antelopes, a rare increase in population that Cuban officials attribute to the many months that the zoo closed during the pandemic.

“Although the epidemic is negative for humans, it is beneficial in the case of zoos,” Ortiz told Reuters. “Our garden, in particular, has more than 10 births of a highly valued and endangered species that could restore biodiversity at some point.”

During a typical year, Ortiz said, the eyes of zoo visitors limit reproduction. The National Zoo is a popular attraction for Cubans, with 1,473 specimens of more than 120 species, including large animals like elephants and rhinos.

Cuba closed its borders for nearly two years amid the pandemic and imposed strict domestic quarantines to curb the spread of the coronavirus. “Because there is no audience in the show areas, the animals are much quieter,” Ortiz explained.