Newborn hippo rescued from riverbank in Colombia's Antioquia region

In northwestern Colombia, a newborn hippopotamus was found isolated in the bushes beside a river in the rural area of Puerto Nare, Antioquia, after fishermen spotted it. Javier Valencia, director of the regional environmental authority, said the calf showed signs of advanced dehydration and malnutrition, prompting immediate veterinary care. Once stabilized, the animal was transferred to a hippo sanctuary located at Hacienda Napoles, the former private zoo of Pablo Escobar that now operates as a theme park.

Colombia's wild hippo population, estimated at about 200, originated from four animals imported by Escobar in the 1980s and has since become an ecological concern, damaging habitats and threatening native species. Authorities have struggled to control the herd, with sterilization attempts failing and costly overseas relocation proposals considered. The rescued calf highlights the challenges of managing this unique, non-native megafauna in the country's ecosystems.