That of the hippos in Colombia is a story that was born far back in time, among the excesses and ambitions of Pablo Escobar. In the 1980s, the head of the Medellín cartel illegally imported four African hippos for his private zoo on the Hacienda Nápoles estate.
When he died in 1993, many of the animals were relocated, but those hippos remained. With no natural predators and a surprisingly favorable habitat along the Magdalena River, they began to breed rapidly. From a few specimens we have grown to over 170 individuals, with growth out of control and destined to increase in the coming years.
An invasive species
What might have seemed like an exotic curiosity has turned into a true environmental emergency. In fact, hippos have been classified as an invasive species: they modify ecosystems, consume large quantities of vegetation and alter the quality of the water.
Not only that. These are territorial and unpredictable animals, among the most dangerous in the world. Although no victims have been recorded in Colombia, there have been several attacks and risk situations, with sightings increasingly close to residential areas, farms and even schools.
Failed attempts: sterilization and transfers
In recent years, the Colombian government has sought alternative solutions to contain the population. The main strategy has been sterilization, a complex and expensive operation that requires trapping the animals and delicate surgeries. At the same time, transfer to other countries or zoological facilities was also attempted, but with limited results.
Logistical difficulties, high costs and health risks associated with transport have made this option impractical. A first controlled culling plan was announced in 2023, which was then suspended due to protests from public opinion and animal rights associations. We thus returned to focusing on less invasive methods, which however did not produce significant results.
The decision: to cull 80 specimens
Now the government has changed course. The Minister of the Environment has announced a plan for the culling of around 80 hippos, deemed necessary to contain a growth which, according to some estimates, could bring the population to 500 specimens by 2030 and over 1000 by 2035.
The decision is based on a technical evaluation: previous methods were judged ineffective and unsustainable from an economic point of view. Culling is therefore presented as an extreme management measure, already adopted in other contexts when no realistic alternatives exist.
An open debate
However, the choice has clearly reignited a strong debate. On the one hand, the authorities highlight the need to protect local ecosystems and ensure the safety of communities. On the other hand, activists and part of the public opinion contest the use of force, calling for more ethical solutions. In the middle there are Escobar’s hippos, innocent animals who have become a “problem” due to a private whim and who now risk paying the highest price for an issue that does not seem to want to find other better (and less destructive) solutions.
View this post on Instagram
You might also be interested in:
