Hippos have become a major problem in Colombia. Steps are now being taken to reduce the problem.
The hippos live near Pablo Escobar’s former estate in Colombia. All are descendants of four hippos that Escobar imported from Africa in the 1980s. Since then, the hippos have multiplied, becoming a threat to the local wildlife.
The reason why Colombia wants to remove 70 hippos is to gain control over the population. In addition to multiplying frequently, Escobar’s hippos have also moved far from the property, and can be found over 200 kilometers away, writes AP News.
The authorities have said that there are close to 130 hippos in the area, and that the population could increase to close to 400 in eight years.
And exactly that is not optimal. Scientists have warned that the hippos have no natural enemies in Colombia and could thus become a problem for wildlife. In 2022, Colombia declared them an invasive species.
The plan to move the hippos to India and Mexico has been in development for over a year. according to AP News the plan is to lure the animals with food into a large container, before they are transported with a trailer to the airport in Rionegro, 150 kilometers away.
Then they will be flown to India and Mexico and various reserves.
The plan is to move the hippos that live in the rivers around Escobar’s old property, not the ones that live on the property.
The relocation of the hippos will help keep the hippo population under control.
Ecuador, the Philippines and Botswana have also signed up to receive the hippos.
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The drug lord Pablo Escobar was shot and killed in 1993. Escobar collected a number of exotic animals at his magnificent property Hacienda Nápoles in Colombia during his heyday. He had everything from elephants, rhinos, lions, giraffes and hippos at his home.
When Escobar was killed in 1993, many of the animals ended up in zoos around the country. But the hippos were left behind.
– It was logistically difficult to move them, so the authorities let them stay. They thought the animals would die out if they were not taken care of, said Colombian biologist Nataly Castelblanco to the BBC in 2021.
The authorities made a big mistake there.
