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Colombia Approves Euthanasia for 'Cocaine Hippos' Left by Pablo Escobar

From Hankyoreh · (21h ago) Korean Critical tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Colombia's environmental authorities have approved the euthanasia of dozens of hippos, originally brought to the country by drug lord Pablo Escobar, due to their growing population and threat to native species and communities.
  • The environment minister stated that other methods like sterilization and relocation were too costly and ineffective, making euthanasia necessary for ecosystem preservation.
  • While the hippos pose ecological and safety risks, they have also become a tourist attraction, and animal welfare groups have criticized the euthanasia decision as cruel and irresponsible.

Colombia is set to proceed with the euthanasia of a population of hippos, descendants of animals brought into the country by the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar in the 1980s. The decision, approved by the Ministry of Environment, stems from the escalating population of these non-native animals, which now pose a significant threat to the local ecosystem, native wildlife, and nearby communities. The government cites the failure of alternative measures, such as sterilization and relocation, as the primary reason for resorting to euthanasia.

We cannot control the population otherwise, and we must take this measure to preserve the ecosystem.

— Irene VélezColombia's Environment Minister explaining the necessity of euthanasia for the hippo population.

Environment Minister Irene Vélez emphasized that controlling the hippo population is crucial for preserving the delicate ecological balance in Colombia. She explained that attempts to sterilize or move the hippos have proven prohibitively expensive and largely ineffective in managing their numbers. Vélez asserted that without this drastic measure, the population would continue to grow unchecked, further jeopardizing native species like manatees and potentially impacting river ecosystems through their waste. The plan could affect up to 80 hippos, though the exact timeline for implementation remains undisclosed.

This is an easy and cruel decision. Killing and slaughter are never acceptable solutions.

— Andrea PadillaA Colombian senator and animal rights activist criticizing the government's decision to euthanize the hippos.

These 'cocaine hippos,' as they have become known, are a unique legacy of Escobar's private zoo. After his death, the animals were left to roam freely, and their population has since ballooned to an estimated 170. Despite the ecological concerns and safety risks, the hippos have inadvertently become a tourist draw, with local communities offering tours and selling merchandise. However, animal welfare activists, including Senator Andrea Padilla, have strongly condemned the euthanasia plan, labeling it a "cruel and easy decision" and arguing that the hippos are victims of human irresponsibility, neglect, and corruption. They advocate for exploring further solutions beyond culling.

The hippos are victims of irresponsibility, neglect, and national corruption.

— Andrea PadillaSenator Padilla's statement on the root causes leading to the current hippo situation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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