Colombian Government Faces Backlash Over Plan to Euthanize Escobar's Hippos
In Colombia, a controversial plan to euthanize approximately 80 hippos, descendants of those brought illegally by drug lord Pablo Escobar, has sparked significant debate. These hippos, now numbering around 200, have become an invasive species along the Magdalena River. The Colombian Environment Ministry warns that without intervention, the population could exceed 500 by 2030. The plan to euthanize the hippos has been met with opposition from animal welfare activists and local residents who benefit from hippo-related tourism. The hippos, which have no natural predators in Colombia, pose a threat to local ecosystems and human safety. However, they also attract tourists, providing economic benefits to communities like Puerto Triunfo. 
