Havana, Europe Brief News – Animal rights organisation PETA warned against animals therapy programme as it is harming the animals.
This came after National Zoo of Cuba has offered animal therapy with exotic and endangered species to children with disabilities.
Jaguar cubs are among the exotic animals that provide effective therapy to children with special needs.
In Havana, the Zoo Parque Zoologico Nacional welcomes children with Down’s syndrome, autism and other special needs to pet the jaguars and play with their paws, stroke the cool, moist skin of snakes and give milk to a zebu cow.
“Apart from breaking barriers of fear…it also encourages them to care for and protect the environment,” says zoo development director and animal therapy specialist Yaima Pueblas.
The teachers and the parents say that the programme provides a bright spot for the children during a particularly tough time on the Caribbean island.
“They have gradually advanced in school,” says special needs teacher Maraidis Ramirez. “They did not write; now they make the ‘a’, they write ‘1’.”
Javier Lavaumena says the programme has changed the direction of his son’s life. “We have seen great achievements with the children…they have made many changes in their lives, at school and at home. They come home with different behaviour,” he says.
However, animal rights organisation PETA warned not to involve exotic animals in therapy programmes.
“PETA opposes the use of any exotic animals in therapy programmes,” the NGO told Euronews Green. They also shared some of the potential animal welfare violations that can take place during animal therapy.
“For example, monkeys, given to paraplegics often have their teeth removed, are sometimes made to wear electric-shock collars, and are kept caged and in isolation when not in service, which is very upsetting to intelligent, social creatures,” says the NGO.
