Pablo Escobar, the notorious drug lord, had a personal zoo in Colombia that was dismantled and exported following his death in 1933. However, the four hippopotamuses-deemed too big to relocate-were abandoned into the environment.
Despite only four hippos being introduced, they managed to survive and replicate: now there are over 80 of them .The hippos have managed to find such a complementary habitat, in the Magdelena river, that their numbers are likely to increase exponentially, and so will their impact.
On one hand, the creatures are generally adored by the locals. They even are boosting tourism in the area. Additionally, there are arguments that the hippos are benefiting the environment by fulfilling an evolutionary role. So its surely good news to have more of these vulnerable animals?
On the other hand, there are concerns about the way these animals can coexist. Being incredibly dangerous, hippos kill almost 3000 people per year. Environmentally, it is likely that the hippos will encroach on other species, such as otters, turtles and manatees. Due to the large amounts of nutrients they excrete, hippos may change the chemistry of rivers leading to algae blooms. Known 'ecosystem architects', these hippos are undoubtedly an invasive species.
So what could be done? Some people suggested culling the hippos, but this idea has provoked massive public outcry. An alternative method of management is sterilisation, but this is an expensive and dangerous task, so the hippos are now protected.
So for now, Colombia's hippos happily roam free
Written by Cara
Artwork by Mrishana
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