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Colombian Environment and Sustainable Development Minister Susana Muhamad looks on during a press conference in Bogota on November 2, 2023 to announce a plan to sterilize, relocate or euthanize hippos descended from ones owned by Pablo Escobar.
CNN
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The infamous “cocaine hippos” of Pablo Escobar are facing a controversial solution in Colombia. The country’s Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Susana Muhamad, announced a plan on November 2, 2023, to sterilize, relocate, or euthanize the hippos that are descendants of those owned by the notorious drug kingpin.
The current population of Escobar’s hippos in Colombia stands at 169. These animals have multiplied rapidly since the original collection of one male and three females. The presence of such a large number of hippos, which have no natural predators in the area, poses a significant environmental challenge. Without intervention, the population could surge to 1,000 individuals by 2035, according to a statement by the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.
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Descendants of Pablo Escobar’s hippos pose an environmental threat.
To address the issue, a plan involving sterilization, relocation, and “ethical euthanasia” has been proposed. These strategies will work in collaboration with each other, as stated by Environment Minister Susana Muhamad. The primary objective is to control the hippo population and mitigate the long-term environmental and ecosystem impacts caused by their exponential growth.
In 2021, scientists recommended culling the hippos to prevent significant negative effects on the ecosystem. However, some experts argue for a castration program to address concerns about animal welfare. Between 2011 and 2019, four males were castrated and two females were sterilized, but it had little impact on curtailing their population growth. Alternative strategies, such as relocating some hippos to other countries like India, Mexico, and the Philippines, are also being considered.
The sterilization process, which is estimated to cost 40 million pesos ($10,000) per animal, will commence next week and aims to sterilize 40 hippos per week. Minister Muhamad stressed that these hippos are classified as “invasive exotic” creatures with aggressive characteristics, posing a threat to ecosystems and the surrounding communities.
Research suggests that hippo waste negatively impacts oxygen levels in bodies of water, endangering fish and humans. Additionally, hippos pose risks to agriculture and the security of local communities, as highlighted in a 2021 study. Recently, a hippo descended from Escobar’s collection died in a car accident, further emphasizing the urgency to address the situation.
