Pablo Escobar's infamous cocaine hippos may have become a tourist attraction of sorts in Colombia, but the government has decided to cull some of these dangerous animals, as these invasive creatures have wreaked havoc in the country's ecosystem and threatened locals.

Before his violent death, the notorious head of the Medellin Cartel, Pablo Escobar, brought several exotic animals to his Colombia residence near the Magdalena River. These included several hippos that, unlike the other animals, remained living in the area and thrived there. The population of these so-called cocaine hippos soon exploded due to the lack of natural enemies it had in Africa, such as lions and Nile crocodiles.

According to News 18, Colombia's environment ministry declared Pablo Escobar's infamous cocaine hippos an invasive species last year. Now, the government has decided to cull them through various methods.

While some will be sent to various zoos around the world, including in India and Mexico, others will be sterilized while others will be euthanized. In the years following Escobar's death, experts have repeatedly warned that these animals' uncontrolled reproduction poses a threat to the local human population and also the local ecology of the Magdalena River where the hippos are thriving.

Cocaine Hippos' Population Exploded Unchecked in Colombia for Decades

Currently, there are 169 of these dangerous creatures roaming around the Magdalena River basin, upsetting the local ecosystem and threatening locals.

However, scientists warned that should the population explosion of these co-called cocaine hippos remain unchecked, their numbers could reach 1,000 by 2035. Environment Minister Susana Muhamad announced that they plan to slow this population explosion down by sterilizing around 40 cocaine hippos each year, beginning next week.

READ MORE: Pablo Escobar's 'Cocaine Hippos' To Be Flown From Colombia to El Chapo's Stronghold, Sinaloa

However, each procedure would be an expensive affair for the Colombian government, as it would take approximately $9,800 to sterilize each animal. There might also be risks to each hippo as it might have allergic reactions to anesthesia and could even lead to death.

In addition, hippos are considered some of the most dangerous animals on the planet. Trying to sterilize one might have a deadly turn for the personnel tasked with sterilizing them as these creatures are infamous for being aggressive and territorial.

As for the animals being sent to other countries, Muhamad said Colombian officials are evaluating sending 60 of these cocaine hippos to India.

"We are not going to export a single animal if there is no authorization from the environmental authority of the other country," she noted.

Colombia Struggles To Contain Cocaine Hippos' Population After Pablo Escobar's Death

Pablo Escobar initially brought in three females and one male hippo from Africa to his estate along the Magdalena River. After he died during a shootout with Colombian authorities, Escobar's infamous cocaine hippos managed to escape and have bred with impunity.

According to Scientific American, as the hippo population exploded, Colombian officials struggled to contain them. Dishing communities across the Magdalena River constantly live in fear, as running into one of these territorial animals could prove fatal.

In addition, outright killing them could spark outrage as shown in 2009 when Colombia ordered an aggressive male to be killed.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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