Colombia approves plan to euthanize invasive hippos

The Colombian government has authorized the euthanasia of up to 80 hippopotamuses as part of an effort to control the growing population of the animals. These hippos are descendants of four individuals imported by drug trafficker Pablo Escobar in the 1980s for his private zoo at Hacienda Napoles. A 2022 study by the University of Colombia estimated that approximately 170 hippos are now roaming the Magdalena River valley. Minister of Environment Susana Muhamad, referred to in some reports as Irene Velez, stated that sterilization efforts have proven costly and insufficient to curb population growth. The government has allocated a budget of approximately 1.68 million euros for a control program that includes containment, relocation, and euthanasia. Environmental authorities have cited risks to local human communities and native ecosystems as the primary reasons for these measures. While some reports mention potential relocation, the policy marks a definitive shift toward population reduction through lethal means.