The animal was hit by a car on the highway between Medellín and the capital Bogotá, television channel Caracol reported Wednesday. Two people in the vehicle suffered minor injuries. “It’s one of the dangers posed by the presence of this species,” said David Echeverry of Conare, a government environmental organization.
The drug lord Escobar once brought four African hippos to his Hacienda Nápoles, recently an estimated 65 to 80 animals roamed the region. They destroy fields, unbalance ecosystems and endanger local residents. Experts fear that the reproductive animals will settle in larger parts of Colombia.
The hippos are now being taken to zoos in Mexico and India. The Ministry of the Environment is currently seeking appropriate permits in accordance with international agreements on trade in protected species. “This accident highlights the importance of bringing the hippos to Mexico and India,” Antioquia Department Governor Aníbal Gaviria wrote on Twitter. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
