Hippos introduced to Colombia by drug lord Pablo Escobar must be hunted, a Colombian court said last week.
Escobar brought hippos to Colombia as additions to his private zoo. When Colombian police killed Escobar in 1993, his property—including his property—was confiscated, and his animals were distributed to zoos. Escobar’s four hippos were left alone—the animals were viewed by the authorities as too difficult to control and were treated as non-issues.
But these animals began to reproduce, expanding their footprint on the environment beyond Escobar’s old habitat, a place of abundant vegetation and predator. Now, there are more than 100 animals roaming the country, bothering local people and potentially threatening other living things in the area.
In 2021, a local court ruled that four-legged animals should be sterilized, rather than euthanized. That project has been moving slowly, although last year plans were put in place to release some of the animals. A recent decision by the Administrative Court of Cundinamarca gave the Ministry of Environment three months to introduce “a regulation that considers measures to eliminate the species” in the area, AFP reported.
According to the Smithsonian, there are now at least 169 hippos roaming Colombia. Hippos are very dangerous; they can weigh up to five tons and be 16.5 feet (five meters) long, and can open their powerful jaws up to 150 degrees, according to the African Wildlife Federation. They are one of the most dangerous animals in nature, and there have been reports of fishermen being attacked in the Magdalena River in western Colombia.
According to an AFP report last year, experts believe that the number of hippos could rise to 1,000 by 2035 if nothing is done. Other proposals—to transfer about 70 animals to breeding grounds in countries including Mexico and India—have gone nowhere.
Animal rights advocates oppose the hunting programs, as do others connected to the tourism industry. Escobar’s legacy—including the two-ton behemoths that roam his estate—continues to attract tourists to the country each year.
Hippos can be dangerous but still need to be protected. For example, the Thwa hippopotamus is endangered, which is why the baby born in the Czech zoo last year is making such a big noise.
Although there have been no fatal conflicts between hippos and humans in Colombia, incidents are on the rise, the Smithsonian reports. Another shocking incident occurred when a hippo entered the school yard, sending teachers and students scattering.
How Escobar’s legacy shakes out remains to be seen, but one fact is clear: something should be done with these hippos.
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