Hunting in Cuba is as old as our aborigines and as deeply rooted as fishing and agriculture, which were, from the beginning of life on the island, classic means of subsistence.
From a young age, Cuban peasants show an innate love for hunting. It is logically in rural areas that this tradition is most firmly anchored. Children spend entire days in the mountains, equipped with homemade traps and slingshots to catch small ornamental birds, typical of Cuban fields and forests, which they can either resell or hunt for pure pleasure.
In Trinidad, for example, there is a great tradition of capturing and breeding ornamental birds, appreciated above all for the quality of their song. Most Trinidadian families own these typical birds that are seen coming out every morning to sunbathe, whose value can exceed several hundred dollars.
However, carrying firearms is naturally prohibited in Cuba. One might therefore imagine that there are not many hunters. However, thousands of Cubans legally own weapons inherited from their ancestors. These privileged people hold licenses to practice sport hunting and are subject to strict control by the competent authorities.
Since the 1980s, the Cuban Sport Hunting Federation (FCCD) was created. This organization brings together more than 42,000 members across the country.
Typically, these hunters not only dedicate their time, resources and skills to hunting Cuban game species, but also to the practice of sport shooting.
The National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) is the governing body of this hunting federation. In Cuba, hunting is officially considered a sport and not a means of economic subsistence.
Associated hunters are interested in the care of flora, fauna and the environment, as their preservation is essential for the survival of their favorite sport.
This activity is governed by laws and resolutions issued by the competent state bodies, in addition to the fact that the Federation has a code of ethics for all its members.
In Cuba, hunters currently represent an indispensable means of biological control of game species in order to maintain their populations at sustainable levels.
The vast majority of Cuban hunters, if not all, are not predators. Rather, they are athletes who love nature and their environment, boasting more about their difficult catches than their quantity, while recognizing the value of the food obtained through their efforts.
The official hunting season in Cuba begins in October and ends on the last Sunday in March. In Cuba's hunting reserves, the species allowed to be hunted include: ducks, pigeons, quails and snipes. The most commonly used rifles are Beretta, Remington, Winchester and Magnum.
Foreign visitors must obtain an international permit to hunt in Cuba, valid for one year.
Organized sport hunting takes place at Costa Maspotón in Pinar del Río; Amarillas in Matanzas; Yarigua in Cienfuegos; Cubanacán in Villa Clara; Jobo Rosado and Zaza in Sancti Spiritus; Morón and Ciego Sur in Ciego de Ávila; Manati in Las Tunas; Guacanayal to Isla de la Juventud; Los Caneyes in Camagüey and El Indio in Santiago de Cuba.
However, not all hunters in Cuba are federated and do not act in accordance with the environmental protection laws in force. In almost the entire national territory, there are poachers who turn this activity into a regular source of personal income and food, without taking into account the many species protected by Cuban laws.
Despite the efforts of the authorities to stop poaching, in large areas such as the large wetland of the Zapata Swamp, illegal predation unfortunately persists. This region is home to many endemic species, such as the Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer), sought after primarily for its meat, and the parrot (Amazona leucocephala), highly prized as a pet, with a high price on the black market. The sale of exotic birds is a serious problem; for example, on the informal market, a parrot can cost up to US$100.
The white-tailed deer, the manjuarí, the manatee, the jutia, the land crab (of which there are special regulations for their capture for commercial purposes) and other animals are among the most threatened in this wetland, due to the predatory action of man.
There are other coastal communities, such as Guanahacabibes, where employment sources are scarce. Many people also live from hunting sea turtles or illegal logging, as the money from trafficking represents an essential income for these local inhabitants.
Fishing and hunting, as a means of subsistence, can be tolerated, but not without restrictions on trade, especially not in such protected areas as the Guanahacabibes Peninsula or La Ciénaga de Zapata, places particularly rich in migratory birds and endangered species.
A recent inventory of species noted in these regions the presence of 16 types of amphibians, 35 reptiles, 193 birds and 18 mammals. Among the species living in the seabed, up to 576 types of mollusks can be observed, as well as many multi-colored fish, as in a huge natural aquarium.
For the indigenous inhabitants of these protected areas, far from the cities, meat, although prohibited, remains a tasty food, whether it is loggerhead, venison or jutía. The domestic animal would often be a parrot.
Although new generations are beginning to understand the importance of conservation, the issue is in direct contradiction with their lifestyles and subsistence traditions. Perhaps one day everyone will understand the need to protect the environment and endangered species, but that does not necessarily mean they will stop consuming these animals or releasing parrots. The situation is much more complex than a simple ban; it is often a matter of survival.
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