The Colombian government has announced the potential culling of dozens of hippos that escaped from a drug lord’s private zoo to prevent their population from rapidly growing.
According to scientists, the animals, which have thrived as they migrated from Pablo Escobar’s property into nearby rivers, are considered an invasive species with the potential to harm native wildlife. They have been labeled as an “ecological time bomb.”
During the 1980s, the drug trafficker Escobar illicitly imported four African hippos for his personal zoo. Following his death in 1993, these animals made their way to the Magdalena River, which is one of the primary waterways in the country.
These animals, famously referred to as “cocaine hippos,” have reproduced at a rate deemed unsustainable by ecologists. They have warned that their population could reach up to 1,000 by the year 2035.
Amidst the controversy surrounding the hippos’ future, the US-based Animal Legal Defense Fund has initiated a lawsuit against the Colombian government regarding its intentions to cull the animals. They advocate for the use of safe contraceptives as an alternative solution.
A portion of the local population values the animals for the tourism revenue they generate in the area.
After prolonged deliberation, government officials have announced their intention to attempt sterilization or exportation of a portion of the herd. This herd, which has its origins in Escobar’s acquisitions, is estimated to consist of approximately 169 animals.
Susana Muhamad, the Minister of the Environment, has outlined the initial phase of the plan, which involves the surgical sterilization of 40 hippos annually, starting from the upcoming week.
The sterilization procedure comes at a significant cost, with each operation amounting to approximately $9,800 (£7,936). The process carries potential risks for the hippos, such as allergic reactions to anesthesia or even mortality, as well as risks for the veterinarians involved, as stated by the ministry.
These hippos, scattered across a wide area, have the tendency to be territorial and exhibit aggressive behavior.
However, ecologists argue that sterilization alone may not suffice to manage the increasing population, prompting the government to make arrangements for the export of 60 hippos to India.
Ms. Muhamad mentioned that officials have reached out to authorities in Mexico and the Philippines as well.
“We are not going to export a single animal if there is no authorisation from the environmental authority of the other country,” she said. As a last resort, the ministry is creating a protocol to euthanise them, she added.
In 2021, an American court granted the animals the status of “legal persons,” marking the first instance in the United States where animals received such acknowledgment. However, it was determined that this ruling did not hold any legal significance in Colombia.