Hippos introduced to Colombia by the drug kingpin Pablo Escobar must be hunted , a Colombian court said last week .
Escobar brought the river horse to Colombia as additions to his individual menagerie . When Colombian police killed Escobar in 1993 , his acres — including his zoological garden — was seize , and his animals were distributed to zoos . Escobar ’s four hippos were left alone — authorisation deemed the animals inept to charm and they were assumed a non - issue .
But the beast started breeding , expanding their footprint to the environment beyond Escobar ’s sure-enough landed estate , an area with plenty of vegetation and nary a predator . Now , over 100 of the beast roam the country , vexing locals and potentially jeopardise other mintage in the area .
Two hippos opening their mouths in a lake near the site of Escobar’s private zoo.Photo: RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP
In 2021 , a local court rule the four - legged heavyweights should be sterilized , rather than euthanized . That project had been proceeding slow , though last class plans arise to euthanize some of the brute . The more recent decision by the Administrative Court of Cundinamarca give the Ministry of Environment three months to preface “ a regulation that think over measure for the eradication of the coinage ” in the area , AFP reports .
grant to Smithsonian , there are nowat least 169of the hippos ramble around Colombia . Hippos are famously grievous ; they can weigh up to five tons and value 16.5 human foot ( 5 meter ) long , and can open their brawny jaws up to 150 degree , according to the African Wildlife Federation . They areone of nature ’s deadliest animals , and there have been study of fishers being attacked on the Magdalena River in western Colombia .
According to an AFP report last twelvemonth , experts believe the hippo population could rise to 1,000 individuals by 2035 if nothing is done . Alternative proposals — transferring about 70 animate being to sanctuaries in res publica including Mexico and India — have not gone anywhere .
advocate of animal right hand object to the hunt architectural plan , as do some people affiliated with the tourism industry . Escobar ’s legacy — admit the two - ton behemoth roam the area of his the three estates — continues to draw visitorsto the country each year .
Hippos can be grave but they ’re still in need of preservation . Pygmy Hippopotamus amphibius , for example , are endangered , which is why ababy birth at a Czech zoolast class made such a big splash .
Though no fatal encounters between hippos and humans have hap in Colombia , incidents are increasing , Smithsonian report . One specially alarming incident pass off when a river horse made its mode into a schoolyard , institutionalize teachers and student spread out .
precisely how the legacy of Escobar shakes out remain to be seen , but one fact is clear : something’sgot to be done about these Hippo Regius .
Zoos
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