Colombia launches sterilisation effort to curb Escobar’s illegally imported hippos

WEB DESK: Colombia initiates a sterilisation campaign to address the burgeoning population of hippos descended from animals illicitly brought into the country by drug lord Pablo Escobar during the 1980s.

Originally confined to Escobar’s estate, these hippos have expanded into nearby rivers, thriving without natural predators and now numbering over 100.

In response, the government has embarked on a plan involving the surgical sterilisation of two male and one female hippo.

Meanwhile the environmental authorities reveal the intention to sterilise 40 hippos annually, transfer some to different countries, and consider euthanising certain individuals. The hippos, recognised as an invasive species, pose a threat to the ecosystem.

Sterilisation efforts face challenges due to the territorial nature and aggression of the 3-ton animals.

David Echeverry Lopez, chief of the environment office overseeing the initiative, highlights the complexity of capturing them, exacerbated by increased rainfall leading to abundant food supply.

Originally introduced to Escobar’s private zoo in the 1980s, these hippos have multiplied freely in rivers. The government estimates the current hippo population in Colombia at 169, projecting a potential surge to 1,000 by 2035 without intervention.

Acknowledging the risks, the environment ministry states that each sterilisation costs approximately $9,800, posing potential hazards for both the hippos, such as allergic reactions to anesthesia or death, and the personnel involved in the process.