Colombia has authorized the culling of up to 80 hippos descended from animals imported by drug lord Pablo Escobar in the 1980s. Environment Minister Irene Vélez announced the decision Monday, marking a shift toward lethal population control after years of failed alternatives.
We have to take this action to preserve our ecosystems
Irene Vélez, Environment Minister — Al Jazeera
The hippos trace their origins to four animals Escobar brought to his private zoo at Hacienda Nápoles ranch in the Magdalena River valley. After the cocaine kingpin's death in 1993, the abandoned animals escaped and multiplied rapidly in Colombia's lush tropical environment.
A 2022 study by Colombia's National University estimated approximately 170 hippos now roam freely across the country. The animals have been spotted more than 100 kilometers from their original location, spreading throughout the Magdalena River basin.
Colombia remains the only country outside Africa with a wild hippo population. The four-tonne mammals pose mounting threats to local communities and native ecosystems, competing with endemic species like manatees for food and habitat.
Al Jazeera frames the story as a necessary environmental decision while emphasizing the tourism paradox and historical context of Colombia's violent past. The outlet highlights animal welfare concerns and the 2009 controversy, presenting the culling as part of Colombia's broader struggle with Escobar's complex legacy.