14.04.2026 23:08
In Colombia, hippos that drug lord Pablo Escobar brought to the country years ago and which multiplied uncontrollably to reach hundreds have turned into a major crisis threatening ecological balance and human safety. Faced with a rapidly breeding and widely spreading population, the government has implemented a controversial plan that includes culling some of the animals, a decision that has sparked a new debate among both scientists and animal rights advocates.
The Colombian government has made a radical decision regarding the hippopotamuses, numbering close to 200, that have spread across the country as part of drug lord Pablo Escobar's legacy. Authorities announced that up to 80 of the animals will be hunted in order to control the population, which poses a serious risk to the local ecosystem and human safety.
FROM 4 HIPPOPOTAMUSES TO HUNDREDS
The origin of the problem dates back to the private zoo Pablo Escobar established at Hacienda Napoles in the 1980s. The 1 male and 3 female hippopotamuses that Escobar brought in illegally were left unattended after his death in 1993, escaped the area, and spread into the wild. Having no natural predators, these animals rapidly multiplied and are now spread throughout the Magdalena River basin.
ECOSYSTEM AND HUMANS UNDER THREAT
Experts state that this population, referred to as "cocaine hippos," causes serious damage to local fauna and flora. The hippopotamuses, which damage agricultural lands and water sources, also pose a danger to humans. Authorities emphasize that this situation is turning into a growing ecological crisis in Colombia.
HUNTING DECISION FROM THE GOVERNMENT
Faced with the increasing threat, the Colombian government has implemented a plan involving the culling of approximately 80 hippopotamuses. The aim is to control the rapidly growing population and reduce its environmental impacts.
REACTIONS WERE NOT DELAYED
However, the decision has drawn reactions from animal rights defenders. Activists argue that methods such as sterilization and controlled relocation should be applied instead of killing the hippopotamuses.
THE SEARCH FOR A SOLUTION CONTINUES
Although sterilization efforts have been considered in Colombia before, a permanent solution could not be achieved due to rapid reproduction. According to experts, while the current population has become "one of the world's largest invasive species," a long-term and comprehensive strategy is needed to solve the problem.