Colombian Officials Authorize Culling of Up to 80 Hippos from Escobar's Descendants

Authorization of Hippo Culling Plan Colombian officials authorized a plan to cull dozens of hippos.

The hippos descended from animals brought to Colombia in the 1980s by Pablo Escobar. Irene Vélez, the environment minister, said the decision was reached because other methods to control the hippo population had been expensive and unsuccessful, including neutering some of the animals or moving them to zoos. Irene Vélez said that up to 80 hippos would be affected by the measure.

Colombia is the only country outside Africa with a wild hippo population. The wild hippo population in Colombia descends entirely from four individuals imported by Pablo Escobar in the 1980s. Pablo Escobar imported the four hippos as part of building a private zoo in Hacienda Nápoles, a ranch in the Magdalena River valley.

A study published by Colombia’s National University estimated that about 170 hippos were roaming freely in Colombia in 2022. Hippos have been spotted in areas more than 100km north of Hacienda Nápoles.

Threats Posed by the Hippo Population Environmental authorities in Colombia say the hippos pose a threat to villagers who have encountered them in farms and rivers.

Environmental authorities in Colombia say the hippos compete for food and space against local species such as river manatees. Colombia’s hippos come from a limited gene pool and could carry diseases. Hacienda Nápoles was confiscated by Colombia’s government as it seized Pablo Escobar’s properties.

Hacienda Nápoles now functions as a theme park featuring swimming pools, water slides, and a zoo that includes several other African species.

Previous Efforts to Control the Population Over the past 12 years, spanning three different presidential administrations, Colombia has tried to neuter some of the hippos in an effort to reduce their population.

The neutering initiatives have had a limited scope due to the high costs of capturing the dangerous animals and performing surgeries on them.

“The decision was reached because other methods to control the hippo population had been expensive and unsuccessful, including neutering some of the animals or moving them to zoos." — Irene Vélez, environment minister > "Up to 80 hippos would be affected by the measure.”