Colombia moves to cull rapidly expanding population of former drug lord's hippos
Colombia has approved a plan to euthanize at least 80 invasive hippos that have multiplied from four animals introduced by Pablo Escobar, as the herd threatens ecosystems and local communities.
Four hippos imported to Pablo Escobar’s Hacienda Nápoles in the 1980s have given rise to a wild population now estimated at around 170, with scientists projecting 500 by 2030 and nearly 1,000 by 2035. Declared an invasive species in 2022, the animals are blamed for water-quality degradation, threats to native wildlife such as manatees, and damage to agriculture and infrastructure. Colombia’s environment ministry has earmarked 7.2 billion pesos and approved a euthanasia protocol for at least 80 individuals, while also considering sterilization, confinement and limited relocation.
Researchers note the hippos act as ecosystem engineers, adding terrestrial carbon to rivers and fostering cyanobacterial dominance, which can lead to eutrophication. Officials warn that postponing control measures would multiply costs by 2.5 times and could render some methods infeasible. The plan faces opposition from locals who have grown attached to the animals and from the logistical difficulty of moving large mammals abroad.
Why it matters
The unchecked hippo boom threatens Colombia's waterways, agriculture and public safety, demanding costly and urgent intervention.
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