Colombia considers sending Pablo Escobar's hippos to India amid population concerns

The Colombian government is exploring an unusual solution to manage the invasive hippopotamus population, a peculiar legacy of drug lord Pablo Escobar. Faced with a growing number of these animals, which have become a significant ecological and safety concern, authorities are considering a proposal from Anant Ambani, son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, to relocate 80 hippos to his Vantara animal center in India.

This initiative offers a potential alternative to the controversial plan to cull some of the hippos, which has been met with resistance from animal welfare groups. The Ministry of Environment is currently seeking formal confirmation from India regarding the Vantara center's permits and its capacity to house the animals. This step is crucial before any decision can be made on the relocation.

The hippos, originally imported by Escobar for his private zoo in the 1980s, have since escaped and proliferated along the Magdalena River, becoming the largest such population outside of Africa. Their presence has disrupted the local ecosystem and posed risks to humans, prompting urgent action from Colombian authorities. The consideration of an international relocation, particularly to a facility in India, highlights the complex and far-reaching implications of Escobar's criminal enterprise, even decades after his death.

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for us to know if (the Indian authorities) authorize the transfer of hippos to the Vantara center.