Colombia to Cull 'Cocaine Hippos'

The plan involves the euthanasia of an initial 80 hippos in the second half of 2026 to control the rapidly growing population.

Since Escobar's death, the animals have escaped his private zoo and established themselves in the Magdalena River, where they have no natural predators.

Conservationists argue the move is necessary to protect the local ecosystem, though the plan has faced some public outcry.

Colombia remains the only country outside of Africa with a wild hippo population, which has become both a tourist attraction and a public safety hazard.