Colombia's Battle to Control Escobar's Descendant Hippos

Colombia has begun sterilizing the descendants of hippos brought to the country by Pablo Escobar in the 1980s. The population of over 100 hippos, which have no natural predators in Colombia, is considered an invasive species that could disrupt the ecosystem. The sterilization plan aims to control the population by sterilizing 40 hippos annually, transferring some to other countries, and potentially euthanizing them. The hippos' presence has already impacted the local ecosystem, changing river compositions and threatening endemic species. However, capturing the territorial and aggressive animals is challenging, and the sterilization process is expensive and carries risks for both the hippos and personnel involved.