Colombia’s wild hippos, once owned by drug lord Pablo Escobar, have raised concerns among conservationists and government officials as their numbers continue to grow.

Escobar introduced hippos from Medellin to his private zoo in the 1980s, but after his death in 1993, they were left unattended. Hippos, not native to Colombia, have since colonized the country’s rivers and lakes, growing their numbers from four to at least 130 now.

While the hippos have become a popular tourist attraction, they have also caused environmental problems and concerns among residents, according to local authorities.

An article in the journal Nature has issued a warning that the population of the hippos could reach 1,500 in the next 20 years.

The Colombian government has struggled to come up with a solution to the problem.

Authorities have tried in the past to manage populations of the species through castration and contraceptive injections, but success has been limited. Some experts have suggested that relocating hippos to other countries, such as India or Mexico, might be a solution.

About 70 hippos, consisting of both males and females, are planned to be transported, 60 to India and the remaining 10 to Mexico. 

But others have raised concerns about the possible environmental impact of introducing non-native species to new areas.

A 2021 Biological Conservation study warns that hippos could also pose a threat to agriculture and human safety.

“Hippos live in herds, they are quite aggressive. They are very territorial and are plant eaters in general,” María Ángela Echeverry, professor of Biology at the Javeriana University told CNN.

For now, the hippos remain a complicated problem for Colombia, and the government continues to find a solution that balances conservation and animal welfare concerns.

Source(s): CNN

For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.