Baby "cocaine hippo" linked to infamous drug lord is rescued in Colombia

In northwestern Colombia, officials rescued a newborn hippopotamus, dubbed a "cocaine hippo", abandoned by fishermen and in poor health. Colombia is home to approximately 200 of these hippos, all descendants of a group introduced by the late drug lord Pablo Escobar in the 1980s. The infant was found alone and malnourished near the Magdalena River in Antioquia, a region previously owned by Escobar as Hacienda Napoles.

Veterinarians promptly treated the hippo for severe dehydration and malnutrition. Once stabilized, the young animal was relocated to a hippo sanctuary at the former Escobar estate. The cocaine kingpin brought four hippos to the property during the 1980s for his private zoo. After Escobar's death in 1993, the hippos escaped and established a population along the river's banks.

These non-native creatures have disrupted the local ecosystem, preying on fish and endangering species such as manatees, otters, and turtles. Due to the lack of natural predators, the hippo population has grown unchecked, causing extensive damage to river vegetation and producing substantial waste, which pollutes the waterways. Recognizing the invasive nature of these animals, the Colombian government has decided to cull around 80 hippos this year after sterilization efforts failed.

Plans to relocate the hippos to overseas sanctuaries were previously considered, but the associated costs, estimated at $3.5 million, proved prohibitive. The current colony represents the largest hippo population outside Africa.