CubaPLUS Magazine

The Keys of Ana María Fauna Refuge is one of the protected areas of Cuba that arouses the greatest interest among ecologists and scientists of the nation since this uninhabited wild area shows in its geography, fauna, and flora, varied ecosystems important for the health of the archipelago that is Cuba.

Located on the southern coast of the central province of Ciego de Ávila, its protection is managed by the Company for the Protection of Flora and Fauna of that instance, complying with a decision of the highest political level, due to its great botanical and ethnological values. Despite the fact that it is not a famous enclave for the quality of its beaches, instead it presents landscapes of great beauty, reminiscent of visions of Eden.

It is an area rich in the nature of the coasts. Among the most notable flora species are medicinal plants (29), as well as potentially medicinal, timber (23), honey-bearing and/or polliniferous (32), and used for human and/or animal food (22), just to mention the most important in our opinion. Something very decisive in the protection of the Cuban coasts is that it has abundant formation of mangroves, which, in addition to their conservation function of nature, contribute a singular value to the economy, if they are wisely managed and exploited. This happens equally with the species of marine fauna in which the shallow and generally swampy waters that surround Cayos de Ana María are prodigal.

Native animals live in the surrounding bushes, canals, and lagoons, for example, the terrestrial Jutia continua (Mesocapromys angelcabrerai), an endemic mammal, which has been the equivalent of the squirrel, without having anything to do with them. Also, in the waters, manatees (Trichechus manatus) found an ideal habitat there and it is very important because it is an endangered species, like sea turtles such as the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), green turtle and loggerhead (Caretta caretta ), often frequent the area, animals located on the red list of conservation programs.

Among the reptiles, Cayos de Ana María is populated by the protected iguana (Cyclura nubila), quite famous among the representatives of the national fauna, and birds such as the iconic zunzún (Chlorostilbon ricordii) and the small bobito (Contopus caribaeus).