Environment Minister Irene Vélez said up to 80 hippos would be affected, as other measures like neutering or relocation have proven expensive and unsuccessful. Colombia is the only country outside Africa with a wild hippo population, which descends entirely from four individuals imported by Escobar in the 1980s. A study published by Colombia’s National University estimated that about 170 hippos were roaming freely in the country in 2022, and recently, hippos have been spotted in areas more than 100km north of the ranch where Escobar initially introduced them.
Environmental authorities in Colombia say the large mammals pose a threat to villagers who have encountered them in farms and rivers, and they compete for food and space against local species such as river manatees. Despite the environmental challenges, the hippos have also become a tourist attraction, with residents offering hippo spotting tours and selling hippo-themed souvenirs. The hippos are one of the main attractions at the Nápoles ranch, which now functions as a theme park.
Animal welfare activists in Colombia have long opposed proposals to kill the hippos, arguing they deserve to live and that addressing the problem through violence sets a poor example for a country that has gone through decades of internal conflict. Senator Andrea Padilla described the plan to cull the hippos as a cruel decision and accused government officials of trying to take the easy way out. Over the past 12 years, Colombia has tried to neuter some of the hippos in an effort to reduce their population, but these initiatives have had a limited scope due to high costs and dangers.
The exact number of hippos to be culled remains unclear beyond the 'up to 80' figure, and it is unknown when the hunting will begin or what specific methods will be used. The current population size is also uncertain, with the last estimate from 2022, and how the government plans to address opposition from animal welfare activists has not been detailed.