The infamous 'cocaine hippos' are an introduced species in Colombia. Drug lord Pablo Escobar kept four hippopotamuses in his estate near Medellin; three female and one male. Upon Escobar's death in 1993, it was deemed too difficult to seize the hippos and so they were left to roam the countryside.
By 2007, the population had multiplied to 16, and to 40 by 2014. They had left the estate and were now living along the Magdalena River. A census conducted over 2021-2022 estimated there were now 181-215 living in Colombia. It is projected that they could number in the thousands in the next few decades if no action is taken.
The hippopotamuses are becoming an increasingly pressing concern. A notoriously dangerous animal, they have already attacked humans and local fishers are understandably worried. As we have seen with invasive species all over the world, they are also having a negative impact on local ecosystems, the extent of which we are only just beginning to understand. On the flip side, some enterprising locals have become reliant on the tourism they bring to the region and oppose efforts to control them.
Local authorities have not yet outlined any plans to address the issue, though many strategies have been proposed by scientists. It is estimated that preventing further breeding by shooting contraceptive darts at them or capturing and castrating them would eliminate them within 50 years. Attempts at direct culling of the population would be much quicker, but have already been met with backlash from the community. Regardless, it is essential that action is taken soon as it is feared that the population may grow beyond our ability to control it if it is allowed to expand much further.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01818-z
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippopotamuses_in_Colombia
