Colombia authorized the euthanasia of hippos that Pablo Escobar illegally took from Africa in 1981, after no country agreed to receive them. The measure aims to control a population of 160 animals that threaten ecosystems and native species.
According to mEnvironment Minister, Irene Vélez, no country showed interest in receiving the animals.
“The administrative silence indicates to us that there is no interest in receiving them,” he stated in the press release.
With no viable alternatives, The Government considers that this is the only way to stop the growth of the population of these animals, which already stands at around 160 individuals. As Forecasts indicate that, without control, there could be at least 500 hippos by 2030.
The animals spread beyond Escobar’s former property and reached the Magdalena River, which led to expansion into various regions of the country. The absence of natural predators and favorable conditions contributed to rapid reproduction.
The non-environmental impact worries the authorities. Hippos affect soil and water, as well as pose a threat to native species such as manatees and turtles.
“It is out of responsibility towards our ecosystems that we have to take these measures”, said the minister.
Over the years, other solutions have been discussed, such as sterilization or transfer to other countries. However, These options proved difficult to implement due to the high cost and lack of international authorizations.
With the absence of agreements and the increase in population, the Government moved forward with euthanasia as a last resort to try to control the invasive species already present in several areas of Colombia.
