In a decisive move on Monday, Colombian authorities approved a plan to cull dozens of hippos that have been roaming freely in the country’s central region, posing a threat to local communities. These animals were originally brought to Colombia by the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar.

The initiative targets up to 80 hippos, marking a critical step to manage their burgeoning numbers following the failure of earlier, costly strategies like neutering, as explained by Environment Minister Irene Vélez.

“Without this intervention, controlling their population will be impossible,” Vélez stated. “This measure is crucial for the preservation of our ecosystems.”

The plan, which is backed by a budget of approximately $1.98 million, includes strategies such as capturing and relocating the animals to manage their numbers effectively.

These hippos are the offspring of four individuals that Escobar imported in the 1980s for his personal zoo at Hacienda Nápoles, located in the Magdalena River valley. Over the years, the hippos have migrated to areas about 60 miles north of Escobar’s former estate.

A study conducted by Colombia’s National University reported that by 2022, an estimated 170 hippos were living freely in the region.

Environmental authorities have warned that the hippos pose a threat to villagers in farms and rivers, and that they have acted as an invasive species — competing for food and space alongside other animals such as river manatees.

The so-called “cocaine hippos” have become a tourist attraction and draw crowds at the Nápoles ranch, which Colombia’s government confiscated during a seizure of Escobar’s properties.

The ranch is now a theme park with swimming pools, water slides, and a zoo that hosts several other African species.

Animal welfare activists in the country have strongly opposed plans to violently eliminate the semiaquatic animals.

Andrea Padilla, a senator and animal rights activist who helped draft a law against bullfights in Colombia, described the plan to cull the hippos as a “cruel” decision.

“Killings and massacres will never be acceptable,” Padilla wrote on X. “These are healthy creatures who are victims of the negligence of government entities.”

Because Colombia’s hippos come from a limited gene pool and could carry diseases, taking them back to their natural habitat in Africa has been considered unfeasible.

With Post wires