Colombia is making progress in transferring 70 hippos that were brought by deceased druglord Pablo Escobar to the country in the 1980s. The animals were left to roam freely after Escobar’s death in 1993 and now pose a threat to the environment. The transfer operation is expected to cost around $3.5 million, with nearly half of the animals being captured and transported to overseas sanctuaries. Ten hippos are bound for the Ostok Sanctuary in Mexico, and 60 are destined for a facility in India. A sterilization program previously tried to control the population but was unsuccessful. Last year, the hippos were declared an invasive species by the environment ministry, opening the door to an eventual cull. However, the transfer plan is seen as a life-saving measure for the animals. The legacy of Pablo Escobar continues to cause problems in Colombia, and this removal plan is seen as a positive step towards controlling the population of hippos.
Colombia to Spend $3.5 Million to Remove Escobar’s 70 Hippos
Colombia is taking action to remove the 70 hippos that were brought by druglord Pablo Escobar to Colombia in the 1980s. The hippos have been left to roam freely since the death of the cocaine baron in 1993 and are now causing havoc in the Antioquia department. Authorities are planning to capture and transfer nearly half of the animals, with ten going to the Ostok Sanctuary in Mexico and sixty to an unknown location in India.
The transfer operation is expected to cost approximately $3.5 million. Ernesto Zazueta, the owner of the Ostok Sanctuary, revealed that the plan is to lure the hippos with bait into pens before confining them to special crates for transportation. A sterilization program previously tried to control the population but was unsuccessful. Last year, the environment ministry declared the hippos an invasive species, which opened the door to an eventual cull. However, the transfer plan is seen as a life-saving measure for the animals.
The population of hippos now stands at 150, and the havoc caused by the hippos has prompted action from the Colombian government. The legacy of Pablo Escobar continues to cause issues in Colombia, and this removal plan is seen as a positive step towards controlling the unusual and potentially dangerous population of hippos.
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