According to the court, the hippos that have been breeding in the central part of the Magdalena River valley pose a threat to the ecological balance and violate the right of citizens to a healthy environment.
“The Administrative Court of Cundinamarca has issued a series of decisions to address the problem of hippopotamus overpopulation,” the agency quoted the institution as saying.
In particular, the court ordered Colombia’s Environment Ministry to publish regulations within three months establishing “measures to destroy the species,” such as controlled hunting and sterilization.
The authority also noted the need to negotiate with some organisations to capture hippos, some of which are planned to be housed in a theme park created on the site of Escobar’s former estate.
It should be noted that the legendary drug lord initially kept four hippos on his farm. However, after his death in 1993, the animals were left unattended and began to multiply. Their population growth was facilitated by Colombia’s favorable climate and the absence of natural predators. Currently, the total number of hippos is estimated at more than 160 individuals. The animals destroy agricultural fields, upset the balance of the ecosystem and endanger local residents.
A year ago, Colombian authorities were trying to sterilize these hippos.
