Colombia approves plan to cull up to 80 hippos linked to Pablo Escobar

Colombia has approved plans to cull dozens of hippopotamuses that have spread across a region in the centre of the country, with up to 80 animals to be euthanised, Environment Minister Irene Velez announced on Monday. “We have to take this action to preserve our ecosystems,” Velez said, without specifying when the cull would begin.

Hippopotamuses were introduced to Colombia by drug lord Pablo Escobar, who brought in four in the 1980s for his private zoo. Their numbers swelled after Escobar died the following decade, making Colombia the only country outside Africa to host the semiaquatic mammal.

A 2022 study estimated that around 170 now roam freely, with sightings reported up to 60 miles from Escobar’s former ranch, Hacienda Napoles, in the Magdalena River basin. One study suggested the population breeds particularly quickly in Colombia’s lush environment.

Authorities say earlier efforts to control the herd — including sterilisation and capturing animals for transfer to zoos — proved too expensive or ineffective. Officials warn the hippos, which can weigh more than four tonnes, pose a threat to villagers and compete for food with endemic wildlife such as manatees.

Despite those concerns, the animals have become a draw for visitors. Hacienda Napoles is now a tourist attraction, and local vendors sell hippo-themed souvenirs and offer hippo-spotting tours. Animal welfare activists have long opposed culling, arguing it would set a poor example in a country that endured decades of conflict.

Backlash has halted action before. In 2009, the killing of an aggressive male hippo — and a photo of soldiers posing with the body — sparked outrage and paused efforts to rein in the population. Officials also say the animals cannot be returned to their natural habitat: because they descend from just four hippos, their limited gene pool could carry diseases.

Velez did not say when the cull would start, underscoring the challenge of balancing ecological risks with public sensitivities as the population continues to expand.