Colombia to cull up to 80 hippos descended from Escobar's zoo

Colombian officials have authorized a plan to cull up to 80 hippos descended from animals brought to the country in the 1980s by Pablo Escobar, after the feral population displaced native species and threatened local villagers.

Environment Minister Irene Vélez announced the decision Monday, stating that other methods to control the population had proven expensive and unsuccessful, including neutering animals or relocating them to zoos. The culling is scheduled to take place during the second half of 2026, though Vélez did not specify an exact start date.

"If we don't do this we will not be able to control the population," Vélez said. "We have to take this action to preserve our ecosystems."

Colombia is the only country outside Africa with a wild hippo population, which descends entirely from four individuals imported by Escobar in the 1980s as the drug lord built a private zoo at Hacienda Nápoles, a large ranch in the Magdalena River valley. The population has since grown to more than 200 individuals, according to officials.

The comprehensive management plan aims to mitigate environmental damage and reduce safety risks in the Magdalena River basin, where the hippos have reproduced without control. The initiative requires an investment of 7.2 billion Colombian pesos, approximately 2 million dollars.

Vélez indicated that the euthanasia methods would be ethical and approved by experts. The culling will target hippos at Hacienda Nápoles and Isla del Silencio, locations where the invasive population has concentrated.

Officials said the decision was reached after determining that alternative population control measures had failed to manage the growing herd effectively.