Billionaire heir offers to take Pablo Escobar’s ‘cocaine hippos’ Colombia plans to euthanize

PUERTO TRIUNFO, Colombia (Gray News) — An Indian billionaire heir is offering to take in 80 hippos linked to Pablo Escobar from Colombia, where the government is planning to euthanize them.

The hippos, known as “cocaine hippos,” are an invasive species in Colombia and are descended from animals brought to the country in the 1980s by Pablo Escobar.

They were intended for the drug lord’s large private zoo at Hacienda Nápoles, the sprawling estate that served as his secluded fortress.

The hippo population has since grown to around 160, and their presence is now endangering native species. Colombia’s Environment Ministry said that, if left unchecked, the hippo population will exceed 500 by 2030.

In order to prevent this, Colombian officials announced a few weeks ago that it planned to euthanize 80 of the hippos.

The decision has sparked a large debate. Some scientists in favor of the euthanasia have reported receiving death threats, while animal advocates call the plan “murder.”

Locals are divided on the matter.

Tourists from across the world come to the Magdalena River to see the hippos, and the nearby town of Puerto Triunfo relies on that tourism. Many residents fear removing the animals will destroy the tourism that supports the town.

Others say the hippos are endangering the local fishing industry. One fisherman said many have abandoned fishing for fear of the hippos, who can charge at speeds of five miles per hour in the water. The fisherman said two hippos capsized his boat after it ended up nearly on top of them, startling the animals.

The Colombian government has also introduced several other options for controlling the growing hippo population, with euthanasia seen as a last resort. One supported by the people of Puerto Triunfo is confining the hippos. Another option is moving the hippos to international sanctuaries or zoos.

Indian magnate Anant Ambani is asking the Colombian government to reconsider its plan to euthanize 80 hippos and has offered to house them at his rescue center in India.

According to CNN, the center houses more than 150,000 animals from more than 2,000 species.

CNN said it has reached out to Colombia’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development about Ambani’s proposal but has not heard back.

Colombia’s Environment Ministry said that no country has committed to a transfer of the hippos, saying high costs and legal matters have deterred potential partners.