Animal Welfare: Colombia planning to kill 80 hippos linked to Pablo Escobar

This information was obtained from CityNews article written by Manuel Rueda, dated April 13, 2026.

In the 1980s, Pablo Escobar brought four hippos to Colombia in attempts to create his own private zoo at his large Hacienda Nápoles ranch. The population has increased drastically, now totalling 170 hippos in the region. Colombia has approved the plan to kill around 80 hippos, with the Environment Minister stating that previous methods of controlling the population were unsuccessful and too expensive. The hippos are an invasive species and are competing with native species for food and habitat. Since the population started at just four hippos, their genetic makeup is compromised, preventing them from been sent back to their natural habitat in Africa. At the moment Colombia and the Environment Minister state that killing the hippos is the only option.

The situation is an animal welfare issue, displaying how human impacts on the environment can cause more harm than good. These hippos do not deserve to be killed, and they are only in this position because of human actions. Instead of killing these hippos, they should be sent to sanctuaries, or accredited zoos, to allow them to live a better life.