Colombia Approves Culling of Escobar’s Hippos

Authorities in Colombia have approved a controversial plan to euthanize dozens of wild hippos originally introduced by drug lord Pablo Escobar, as officials warn the growing population is threatening both local communities and native ecosystems.

The decision follows years of failed efforts to control the animals’ numbers after Escobar brought the first group to his private estate in the 1980s. The hippos, now roaming freely in central Colombia, have multiplied rapidly and are increasingly encroaching on populated areas.

Environment Minister Irene Velez said previous measures, including sterilization and relocation to zoos, proved costly and ineffective in managing the expanding population.

Under the new plan, up to 80 hippos may be culled, though officials have not yet announced a timeline for the operation. Velez stressed that the move is necessary to prevent further ecological damage and ensure public safety.

“If we do not act, we will not be able to control their population,” she said, adding that the measure is essential to protect Colombia’s ecosystems.

Colombia remains the only country outside Africa with a wild population of hippos. The animals are descendants of four individuals brought by Escobar to his sprawling Hacienda Nápoles estate in the Magdalena River Valley, which once served as his private zoo and rural compound.

The plan has sparked debate among conservationists and animal rights advocates, highlighting the complex challenge of managing invasive species that pose both environmental and social risks.