A Colombian court has ruled that over 160 hippos, descendants of animals brought to the country by drug lord Pablo Escobar, must be exterminated due to the risks they pose to local communities and ecosystems.
An Invasive Species
According to WP the ruling came from an administrative court in Cundinamarca on September 6, directing the Ministry of Environment to implement measures within three months. These may include controlled culling and sterilization of the invasive species.
Escobar, who was killed in 1993 during a police operation, owned various exotic animals, including hippos, which he imported from Africa. Initially starting with just four hippos, the population has exploded in the wild since his death, with estimates suggesting it could exceed 1,000 by 2035.
In 2023, the Ministry of Environment announced a plan to sterilize part of the hippo population, which also included the possibility of euthanizing some animals. However, the sterilization process has been slow, and no animals have been euthanized to date. Plans to relocate dozens of hippos to Mexico, India, and the Philippines have also fallen through.
Boosts Local Tourism
The Cundinamarca court accepted a complaint from local community representatives, who argued that the hippos pose a danger to both people and the environment.
As an invasive species, they outcompete native wildlife, and their large size and territorial behavior exacerbate these risks. There have already been several reports of hippo attacks on humans in Colombia.
The hippos have sparked heated debate in Colombia, with some arguing that their presence boosts local tourism. Nevertheless, the environmental concerns surrounding these animals highlight the broader issues posed by invasive species, which can disrupt ecosystems and threaten biodiversity.
Invasive species often lead to significant ecological imbalances and may pose health risks to humans, as seen with various other invasive organisms in different parts of the world. The case of Escobar's hippos serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced when non-native species are introduced into new environments.
