Colombia approves culling of up to 80 hippos descended from Pablo Escobar’s private zoo

By The Inspirer.

Colombia has approved plans to cull up to 80 hippos that have been roaming freely across the country’s central region, in an effort to control a growing invasive population originally linked to drug lord Pablo Escobar.

Environment Minister Irene Vélez announced the decision on Monday, saying the measure was necessary after earlier efforts to control the animals proved too costly or ineffective.

“We have to take this action to preserve our ecosystems,” she said, without specifying when the culling operation will begin.

The hippos were first introduced to Colombia in the 1980s when Escobar imported four animals for his private zoo at Hacienda Nápoles, his sprawling estate in the Magdalena River basin.

After Escobar’s death in the 1990s, the animals were left unmanaged and began reproducing rapidly in Colombia’s favourable climate. A 2022 study estimated their population had grown to around 170, with sightings reported as far as 60 miles from the original estate.

Colombia is the only country outside Africa with a wild population of hippopotamuses, which can weigh more than four tonnes and are considered highly invasive in the region.

Authorities say the animals pose risks to nearby communities and threaten native species, including manatees, due to competition for resources.

Previous control efforts, including sterilisation and relocation to zoos, have failed to curb the population growth.

Despite environmental concerns, the hippos have become a major tourist attraction at the former Hacienda Nápoles site, where visitors now take hippo-spotting tours and buy themed souvenirs.

However, animal welfare groups have opposed culling plans, warning it could set a troubling precedent.

The population cannot be relocated to Africa due to concerns over disease and genetic limitations, as all existing animals descend from just four founders, creating a restricted gene pool.