Colômbia luta contra invasão de hipopótamos 30 anos após morte de Pablo Escobar

Summary

Colombia faces an unexpected environmental and safety challenge with the overpopulation of hippos, descendants of those brought by notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar in the 1980s. Over 120 hippos now roam freely, causing ecological disruptions and posing threats to locals. Despite initial suggestions of culling, public outcry and tourism opportunities have led to alternative control measures, including sterilization and relocation to international zoos, as the hippo population is predicted to surge to over 1,400 in the coming decade.

Takeaways

• 🐊 Colombia is facing an environmental issue with hippos, descendants from those owned by Pablo Escobar, which have become a large, invasive population outside of Africa.
• 💉 The hippos are aggressive and have attacked residents, posing a safety risk to local communities.
• 🌎 The hippos have spread across one of Colombia's most important rivers, the Rio Madalena, and have been seen up to 300 km away from their original habitat.
• 📈 The hippo population has grown uncontrollably due to their adaptability, with over 120 descendants from the original four hippos brought by Escobar.
• 🚫 After Escobar's death, the hippos were left behind on his abandoned farm, as capturing and relocating them was deemed too difficult.
• 🌳 The presence of hippos has ecological consequences, affecting water chemistry, fishing, and displacing other species like manatees and capybaras.
• 🚗 There have been incidents of hippos on roads, including one that was hit and killed by a car, highlighting the potential for accidents.
• 🛑 The Colombian government and environmental agencies are considering alternatives to culling, such as sterilization and chemical castration, to control the population growth.
• 🌍 Plans are in place to transfer some hippos to zoos in other countries like India, Mexico, and Ecuador to help manage the population.
• 🏰 The hippos have also become a tourist attraction, with a theme park and souvenir shops capitalizing on their popularity related to Pablo Escobar.
• 🛑 Despite the dangers, there is public opposition to culling the hippos, and efforts are being made to find non-lethal methods of population control.