Escobar brought the hippopotami to Colombia as additions to his private zoo.
Escobars four hippos were left aloneauthorities deemed the animals cumbersome to capture and they were assumed a non-issue.
In 2021, a local court ruled the four-legged heavyweights should be sterilized, rather than euthanized.
Two hippos opening their mouths in a lake near the site of Escobar’s private zoo.Photo: RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP
That project had been proceeding slowly, though last year plans developed to euthanize some of the animals.
According to Smithsonian, there are nowat least 169of the hippos roaming around Colombia.
Alternative proposalstransferring about 70 animals to sanctuaries in countries including Mexico and Indiahave not gone anywhere.
Proponents of animal rights object to the hunting plans, as do some people affiliated with the tourism industry.
Escobars legacyincluding the two-ton behemoths roaming the area of his estatecontinues to draw visitorsto the country each year.
Hippos can be dangerous but theyre still in need of conservation.
Though no fatal encounters between hippos and humans have occurred in Colombia, incidents are increasing, Smithsonian reported.
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