Colombia plans to reduce the population of 80 wild hippos that originated from a colony established by the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar. Escobar introduced four hippos to Colombia in the 1980s for his private zoo in the Magdalena River valley. The hippos multiplied and spread across the country, with an estimated 170 of them in Colombia by 2022. Due to concerns about the threat they pose to villagers, the government has decided to cull around 80 of these animals to safeguard the local environment and residents.
Environment Minister Irene Vélez mentioned that previous attempts to control the hippo population, such as neutering and relocation to zoos, were ineffective and costly. She emphasized the necessity of the cull to manage the population and protect ecosystems. The hippos, competing for resources with local species like river manatees, have sparked opposition from animal welfare activists like Senator Andrea Padilla, who criticized the cull as “cruel.”
Designated as an invasive species in 2022, the hippos have been a subject of various management strategies, including unsuccessful attempts to neuter them due to the high costs involved. Despite becoming a tourist attraction, with locals offering hippo tours and souvenirs, the hippos’ limited gene pool and potential disease transmission make it impractical to return them to their native habitat in Africa.
Escobar’s former ranch, Hacienda Nápoles, where the private zoo was located, is now a theme park operated by the Colombian government. Escobar, known as “The King of Cocaine,” was a notorious criminal and one of the wealthiest individuals in history until his death in 1993. His extravagant wealth, primarily from his cocaine empire, earned him a place among the world’s richest individuals, with an estimated net worth of $9 billion (£7 billion).
Escobar’s life story has inspired various media adaptations, including a popular Netflix series.
