pablo dozens Escobar’s wild cocaine hippopotamus In Colombia, executions would be carried out as the mob rampages out of control.
The animals were first smuggled into the South American nation in the 80s cartel leader Before fleeing his compound when he was killed in police firing in 1993.
Since then, hippos have been wreaking havoc in Colombia and even attacking villagers.
Now, officials plan to cull at least 80 of them as part of the latest £1.5million plan to control the growing population.
Environment Minister Irene Vélez said culling some of the hippos – considered an invasive species in Colombia – was the “responsible and ethical” thing to do.
“We know that individual hippos are roaming in places where humans live, and it is necessary for us to protect human life,” she said.
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“If we do nothing, it is estimated that by 2030 there will be 500 of them impacting our ecosystems and native species like manatees and turtles.”
Sending some animals to other countries has not been ruled out, although Vélez said that despite “intense diplomatic work” no other country has offered to take them.
Due to begin in the second half of 2026, killing will include “physical and chemical euthanasia”.
Colombia is the only country outside Africa with a wild population of hippos.
The herd – estimated to number about 170 in 2022 – is descended from just four hippos illegally trafficked to the drug lord’s private zoo in Hacienda Napoles.
After police seized a huge luxury farm in the Magdalena River valley, four hippos were left to mate unchecked.
The lack of hunters and the ideal of Colombia have helped their rapid growth Season conditions.
Hippopotamuses have been spotted as far away as 230 miles from their original home and scientists fear they could be negatively impacting the local ecosystem.
Who was Pablo Escobar?
Pablo Escobar was a notorious Colombian drug lord and leader of the Medellín Cartel, one of the most powerful and violent criminal organizations in history.
Born in Rionegro, Colombia on December 1, 1949, Escobar rose from humble beginnings through the illegal cocaine trade to become one of the richest and most dangerous men in the world.
During the 1980s, Escobar controlled most of the cocaine entering the United States, making billions of dollars.
He was known for his brutal tactics, including bribery, intimidation, and murder, to maintain power and influence.
His cartel was responsible for thousands of deaths, including those of government officials, judges, police officers and civilians.
Escobar’s influence extended beyond the drug trade.
He used his wealth to build social programs, homes, schools and sports facilities in his hometown of Medellín, which gained him some support among the local population.
But his reign of terror also led to significant violence and instability in Colombia.
The Colombian government, with the support of the United States, launched a massive operation to capture Escobar.
He was ultimately assassinated by the Colombian National Police in Medellín on December 2, 1993.
Even more serious, they are a growing threat to humans in parts of Colombia where they have never been seen before.
Late last month three hippos were spotted walking on the motorway running from Bogotá to the city of Medellin, causing panic among Easter holiday drivers.
In April 2023, an adult male weighing around 300 stone died after being hit by a van while crossing the same motorway, which caused significant damage to the vehicle and injured two occupants.
Scientists also fear that hippo feces could threaten fish species in Colombia because a single hippo produces up to 20 pounds of waste every day.
In Africa, where this animal originates, its waste provides vital nutrients for fish to feed on in rivers and lakes.
But in Colombia, local flora and fauna are unable to eat it and are in danger of extinction as a result.
Wildlife groups have previously urged the government to try controlled killing and even sterilization to avoid mass killings.
But veterinarian Carlos Valderrama, who castrated the cocaine hippo as part of an experiment in 2009, later warned: “Even though we had the animal unconscious, it almost tipped over the crane we were using to help with the procedure.
“It was like being in the movie Jurassic Park with the dinosaurs.”
