The descendants of Pablo Escobar’s “cocaine hippos” are facing a cull to stop them multiplying and threatening the environment. With no natural predators, the invasive species is expected to keep on reproducing, potentially causing serious damage to the ecosystem of the South American country. Colombia’s minister of environment and sustainable development Susana Muhamad said the population could boom to “1,000 individuals by 2035” unless “strong measures” are taken. However, they did not move the so-called “cocaine hippos” as they were too difficult to transport, and they were left unattended, allowing their numbers to flourish. Earlier this year a sanctuary owner said an operation to transport 70 hippos to India and Mexico would cost Colombia $3.5million.

Source: CNN November 05, 2023 11:34 UTC