Colombians want to euthanize or sterilize animals: Pablo Escobar’s hippos are causing problems

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Pablo Escobar’s (1949–1993) hippos are always on screen. The big four-legged friends are not the only legacy of the infamous drug lord, but they are the one that worries the Colombian government the most.

The country has been struggling with a hippopotamus plague for some time and, according to the Colombian Ministry of the Environment, wants to combat this with sterilization. But with 9,000 euros per animal, the state has to dig deep into its pockets. Therefore, the government of Colombia is considering two other methods to combat the disease. This includes ethical euthanasia – that is, putting them to sleep – or moving the animals to a zoo in India or Mexico.

Multiple hooks for sterilization

The four-legged friends are becoming increasingly dangerous to the population, destroying fields and throwing the ecosystem out of balance. Since March 2022, the animals have also been listed as an invasive species in Colombia. That is why the government wants to prevent uncontrolled proliferation. There are currently 160 hippos living in the Rio Magdalena River.

However, sterilization is a difficult and expensive undertaking. There is a risk that the animals will die, have an allergic reaction to the anesthesia or endanger the local veterinary group, the ministry reports. Nevertheless, the project will start next week, with the aim of sterilizing 20 animals by the end of the year. This number is expected to increase to 40 in the coming years.

Tigers, giraffes and hippos in Escobar’s private zoo

The plague was caused by four African hippos that Escobar brought to his Hacienda Nápoles residence in Colombia in the 1980s. Escobar had illegally acquired a private zoo. With tigers, giraffes and hippos. When the drug lord died, most of the animals were taken to other zoos. But the four hippos were released into the wild near the Magdalena River. They live and reproduce there to this day. (mgf)

Source: Blick