 See ----->Pablo Escobar 'Cocaine Hippo' whacked by car | Colombia says there are 169 hippos in the country, especially in the Magdalena River basin, and that if nothing is done there could be 1,000 by 2035. The plan's first phase is sterization of 40 hippos per year. Each sterilization costs about $9,800 USD — and entails risks for all involved. Colombian officials have contacted authorities in Mexico, India and the Philippines to deport 60 hippos. That will cost $3.5 million. The final solution involves creating a protocol for euthanasia. There is no political will for a cull of the beloved tourist attractions. |
| After Colombia added Escobar's cocaine hippos to a list of 'introduced, invasive species,' experts say killing them may be the only viable option. Attempts to sterilize the animals is going poorly, is expensive, and is extremely difficult with something which can weigh as much as 1.8 tons. "Sacrifice (culling) remains on the table," said David Echeverri, head of the Cornare state environmental agency. Studies suggest they could quadruple their population every 10 years if left unchecked. |
 | At his apex in the 90s Pablo Escobar was one of the richest men in the world. With income peaking at more than $30b, the kingpin spent lavishly on his estates. The excesses of Hacienda Nápoles included a zoo stocked with exotic animals from around the world.  |  Escobar brought four hippos to his estate before he was shot dead in 1993. They multiplied. Relocation isn’t simple, they are up to 3,000 pounds, territorial and extremely dangerous. |
 | 24 of the hippos were given a chemical that makes them infertile in 2022. The 'cocaine hippos' were sterilized after worries grew over their environmental impact. The decision to try to neutralize the herd’s breeding comes after a study concluded they were becoming a hazard. |  |
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The ecological impact of Escobar's hippos is largely unknown. Hippos have a lifespan of 50 years and spend most of their day under water in groups. They are notorious for being territorial and are extremely dangerous. They are one of the most aggressive animals on the planet.  |
