- Colombian officials have authorised a plan to cull dozens of wild hippos, citing their threat to villagers and native species, and the failure of previous population control methods.
- Environment Minister Irene Vélez stated that up to 80 hippos would be affected, emphasising the necessity of the measure to preserve the country's ecosystems.
- The hippos are descendants of four brought to Colombia in the 1980s by drug lord Pablo Escobar for his private zoo, with their population estimated at around 170 in 2022.
- These large mammals have spread significantly from their original location, posing environmental challenges by competing with local species and being encountered by villagers.
- Despite becoming a tourist attraction, animal welfare activists oppose the culling, arguing for the hippos' right to live and questioning the use of violence as a solution.
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