Colombia authorizes plan to cull up to 80 hippos descended from Escobar’s zoo
Colombia has authorized a plan to cull dozens of wild hippos descended from animals once kept by drug lord Pablo Escobar, citing growing risks to communities and native species. Environment Minister Irene Vélez said up to 80 hippos could be affected by the measure but did not say when hunting would begin.
“If we don’t do this we will not be able to control the population,” Vélez said. “We have to take this action to preserve our ecosystems.” Previous attempts to control the so‑called “cocaine hippos,” including neutering some animals and moving others to zoos, have been expensive and largely unsuccessful, she added.
Colombia is the only country outside Africa with a wild hippo population. The animals descend from four hippos Escobar imported in the 1980s for a private zoo at Hacienda Nápoles, his sprawling ranch in the Magdalena River valley. A study by Colombia’s National University estimated about 170 hippos were roaming freely in 2022.
The species has been declared invasive, and while the government previously arranged for the possible transfer of hippos to overseas sanctuaries, officials have said deportation could cost an estimated $3.5 million. The hippos’ range has expanded, with sightings reported more than 60 miles north of Hacienda Nápoles.
Environmental authorities warn the animals threaten villagers on farms and rivers and compete for food and space with native species such as river manatees. Independent journalist Audrey Huse, who has lived in Colombia for years, said the roaming hippos kill fish and endanger endemic species including manatees, otters and turtles.
“Because they have no natural predators here, as they would in Africa, the population is booming and it’s affecting the local ecosystem,” she said, adding that the animals’ significant waste “poisons the rivers.” Despite the ecological concerns, the hippos have become a draw for local tourism.
Communities around Hacienda Nápoles offer hippo-spotting tours and sell hippo-themed souvenirs. The former ranch, confiscated by the state, now operates as a theme park with swimming pools, water slides and a zoo that includes other African species. Last October, President Gustavo Petro announced the country handed over a portion of the property to women affected by Colombia’s armed conflict.
Animal welfare activists have long opposed lethal control. Senator and animal rights advocate Andrea Padilla called the cull “cruel” and accused officials of choosing the easiest option. “Killings and massacres will never be acceptable,” she wrote on X, arguing the hippos are “healthy creatures” harmed by government negligence.
Over the past 12 years, across three presidential administrations, Colombia has attempted to sterilize some hippos, but the scope has been limited by the danger and expense of capturing the animals and performing surgery. Officials have not said when the newly authorized hunting will begin.