Colombian authorities plan to reduce the population of 80 feral hippos descended from a group initially introduced by the late Pablo Escobar. The drug lord had imported four hippos in the 1980s for his private zoo in the Magdalena River valley, where they later bred and spread across Colombia. A recent study by Colombia’s National University estimated a population of approximately 170 hippos in the country by 2022. Due to concerns regarding the safety of local residents and the environment, the government has decided to cull around 80 of these hippos.
Environment Minister Irene Vélez stated that previous population control efforts, such as neutering and relocation to zoos, were ineffective and costly. Vélez emphasized the necessity of the cull to manage the hippo population and protect the country’s ecosystems. These hippos are also competing with local wildlife, like river manatees, for resources.
Despite opposition from animal welfare activists, including Senator Andrea Padilla, who criticized the cull as “cruel,” the government remains committed to the population reduction. The hippos were officially classified as an invasive species in 2022, prompting authorities to explore various methods, including neutering, to manage their numbers. However, the high costs associated with capturing and performing surgeries on the animals limited the effectiveness of these efforts.
Escobar’s former estate, 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 killed by police in 1993. His criminal empire amassed immense wealth, ranking him as one of the richest individuals globally. His life story has inspired a popular Netflix series.
The limited gene pool of Colombia’s hippos and the potential risk of disease transmission make their return to Africa unfeasible. The hippos have become a tourist attraction, with locals offering hippo-spotting tours and selling hippo-themed souvenirs near Escobar’s former zoo. Forbes once listed Escobar as the seventh wealthiest person in the world in 1989, with an estimated net worth of $9 billion (£7 billion).