Authorities in northwestern Colombia have rescued a newborn hippopotamus found alone by fishermen near a riverbank. The baby hippo showed signs of malnutrition, according to officials. Colombia hosts around 200 “cocaine hippos,” which originated from a group brought to the region by deceased cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar, as reported by the Environment Ministry.
The fishermen discovered the young hippo separated from its mother in bushes along a riverbank in Puerto Nare, Antioquia. Javier Valencia, director of the regional environmental authority, shared these details in a statement. Veterinarians treated the hippo for dehydration and malnutrition, stabilizing it before transferring it to a sanctuary at Hacienda Napoles, Escobar’s former estate that now operates as a theme park.
Escobar originally imported four hippos in the 1980s for a private zoo. After his death in 1993, the animals escaped, populating areas along the Magdalena River. Their presence has disrupted ecosystems and occasionally resulted in attacks on local residents. Independent journalist Audrey Huse explained to CBS News that hippos have no natural predators in Colombia, unlike in Africa. Unchecked population growth has affected local species such as manatees, otters, and turtles.
The Colombian government now considers the hippos an invasive species due to their impact on native ecosystems. This prompted a plan to cull about 80 hippos, following unsuccessful sterilization efforts to control reproduction. While authorities have explored transferring hippos to sanctuaries abroad, costs are substantial, estimated at $3.5 million. This colony represents the largest group of hippos outside of Africa.