Pablo Escobar’s hippopotamuses are taking over the Columbia swamps – and they must face the same fate as their owner late before they become uncontrollable, scientists have warned.
The so-called “cocaine hippos” were illegally imported into the country by the well-known drug lord, who was shot by authorities in 1993, the Telegraph reported.
But fast-growing animals have now become the largest invasive species on the planet – and could reach a dangerous number in the next two decades.
“No one likes the idea of shooting a hippopotamus, but we have to accept that no other strategy will work,” said environmentalist Nataly Castelblanco-Martínez.
When Escobar was killed, authorities took control of his 7,000-acre property, including a personal zoo.
While most of the animals found their homes in zoos elsewhere, four of the hippos escaped.
Without real predators, there are between 80 and 100 descendants of Escobar’s former pets who terrorize the country’s lakes and rivers, the Telegraph reported.
Scientists have projected that the hippopotamus’s population could grow to 1,500 by 2024.
Hippos pose a threat to natural wildlife because their urine and feces are toxic, potentially infecting other species and even humans, the Telegraph reported.
David Echeverri Lopez, a government environmentalist, said he was struggling to castrate the creatures before taking control.
“These hippos have become part of the local identity. But time is running out, “he said.
But others fear that there is no choice but to sacrifice them.
“The relocation could have been possible 30 years ago, when there were only four hippos,” Castelblanco-Martinez told reporters.
“Castration could also have been effective if officials had provided sufficient resources for the program in the beginning, but elimination is now the only option.”