Islanders observe baby animals eating article (6)
I believe the answer is:
cubans
'islanders' is the definition.
(people from Cuba)
'animals eating article' is the wordplay.
'animals' becomes 'cubs' (cub is a kind of animal).
'eating' is an insertion indicator.
'article' becomes 'an' (indefinite article).
'cubs' placed around 'an' is 'CUBANS'.
'observe baby' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cubans that I've seen before include "Citizens of Castro's country" , "Natives of Havana, say" , "Nationality of citizens of Havana" , "They live on the largest island in the West Indies" , "They're native to Havana, say" .)