Colombia Approves Culling of 80 Invasive Hippos from Escobar Era

Colombia's government has approved the culling of up to 80 wild hippos that descended from animals introduced during Pablo Escobar's reign in the 1980s, according to WION reporting. The hippo population has grown exponentially and now disrupts local ecosystems and poses risks to rural communities. Per WION, the government action represents an escalation in efforts to control an invasive species that has become an established ecological problem across multiple Colombian regions. The hippos, originally kept in Escobar's private zoo, escaped or were released after his death and have since thrived in Colombian wetlands.