Colombia to Cull Escobar's Hippos

The feral hippo population in Colombia, which has grown to over 160 animals, will face a significant reduction in the second half of 2026.

Environment Minister Irene Velez announced that the plan includes the euthanasia of an initial 80 hippos, which have become a major threat to the country's biodiversity and public safety.

The animals, originally part of Escobar's private zoo at Hacienda Nápoles, have displaced native species like manatees and capybaras.

While the hippos have become a tourist attraction, experts agree that their presence in the Magdalena River basin is ecologically unsustainable.