Colombia Authorizes Culling of Pablo Escobar's Invasive Hippopotamus Population

Colombia's government authorized a plan to cull up to 80 hippopotamuses descended from animals imported by drug lord Pablo Escobar, with the program set to begin in the second half of 2026. Irene Vélez, director of Colombia's National Environmental Agency, announced the decision on Monday, April 13, framing it as a necessary step after years of failed alternatives. The current wild hippo population is estimated at between 170 and 200 individuals, all descended from four animals Escobar brought to the country in the 1980s. Without intervention, that number could reach 1,000 by 2035, Vélez said.

„We must act to reduce the hippopotamus population. These actions are essential to protect our ecosystems and our native species.” — Irene Vélez via Reuters

Colombia's hippo problem traces directly to Pablo Escobar, the leader of the Medellín cartel who was killed in 1993. Escobar built a private zoo at Hacienda Nápoles, an estate in the Magdalena River valley, and illegally imported four hippos — one male and three females — from Africa in the 1980s. After Escobar's death, the Colombian government confiscated the property, but the hippos were deemed too dangerous to transport and were left behind. They escaped into the surrounding wetlands and, lacking natural predators, began reproducing unchecked. In 2022, the Colombian government formally classified the animals as an invasive exotic species.

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Budget set, two euthanasia methods approved for second half of 2026 The approved management plan carries a budget of 7.2 (billion Colombian pesos) — total budget for hippo population control program">total budget for the hippo management plan, equivalent to approximately $1.98 million. According to Deutsche Welle, authorities will use two methods — one physical and one chemical — both beginning with capture and sedation of the animal before administering medications approved by wildlife management experts. The BBC reported that each individual euthanasia procedure is expected to cost around 50 million Colombian pesos. The 80 animals targeted in the initial phase will be drawn primarily from Hacienda Nápoles and from Isla del Silencio on the Magdalena River, where the largest concentration of hippos is found, though Deutsche Welle noted authorities have not ruled out intervention in other areas near cities where the animals have been spotted. Vélez said the expectation is that the population will be reduced by at least 33 hippos per year. The plan also formally includes translocation as an option, but Colombia has not yet received a positive response from any of the eight countries it has approached, including India, Mexico, the Philippines, Ecuador, Peru, and South Africa.

India: 1, Mexico: 1, Philippines: 1, Ecuador: 1, Peru: 1, South Africa: 1

Genetic defects and failed sterilization left officials with few options Over the past 12 years, spanning three presidential administrations, Colombia attempted to control the hippo population primarily through sterilization, but those efforts were limited in scope due to the high cost and difficulty of capturing and performing surgery on animals that can weigh between 1,300 and 3,500 kilograms. Returning the animals to Africa was ruled out because the Colombian population originates from a very small gene pool and could carry diseases, making reintroduction to their native habitat unfeasible. Vélez described the animals as suffering from "genetic poverty" due to inbreeding, with "genetic damage that is already visible" in some specimens — a factor that has also reduced the willingness of foreign zoos and sanctuaries to accept them. The hippos have spread well beyond Escobar's original estate, with some individuals spotted more than 100 kilometers north of Hacienda Nápoles. Environmental authorities say the animals contaminate waterways, compete with native species including river manatees and freshwater turtles for food and habitat, and pose a direct physical danger to farmers and fishermen along the Magdalena River.

„If we don't do this we will not be able to control the population. We have to take this action to preserve our ecosystems.” — Irene Vélez via AP

Senator calls the plan cruel as tourist economy complicates the debate The announcement drew immediate criticism from animal rights advocates. Senator Andrea Padilla Villarraga, a psychologist and animal rights activist who is a member of Colombia's Green Alliance party and currently serves as a senator, labeled the plan "cruel" and accused authorities of avoiding real solutions.

„Killing and massacres will never be acceptable. They are healthy animals, victims of the negligence of state institutions.” — Andrea Padilla via adevarul.ro

The debate is further complicated by the economic role the hippos have come to play in the region. Despite the ecological and safety concerns, the animals have become a significant tourist attraction, with residents of villages surrounding Hacienda Nápoles offering hippo-spotting tours and selling hippo-themed merchandise. The former Escobar estate itself, now a state-run theme park, lists the hippos among its main attractions alongside swimming pools, water slides, and other African species. The dual identity of the animals — as both an invasive ecological threat and a regional tourism asset — has made the debate in Colombia particularly charged. Vélez said the decision follows recommendations from biodiversity experts and will be carried out according to a technical protocol designed to ensure the process is, in her words, "ethical, safe and responsible."

2022: 170, 2030: 500, 2035: 1000