In the 1980s, drug lord Pablo Escobar brought four African hippos to Colombia. Since his death, the animals have been left to fend for themselves. They reproduced and spread wildly.
April 28, 2026, 9:19 p.mApril 28, 2026, 9:19 p.m
An Indian billionaire’s son wants to relocate 80 hippos belonging to drug lord Pablo Escobar from Colombia to India that were intended to be killed. “These 80 hippos did not choose where they were born nor did they create the circumstances they now face,” explained Indian entrepreneur Anant Ambani, who founded the Vantara animal center and comes from the influential family behind the major corporation Reliance Industries.
Ambani appealed to the Colombian government to reconsider the planned cull and instead consider “safe and scientifically supported relocation”. His center in the state of Gujarat offered to take in and care for the animals and provide a “fully equipped alternative” – subject to the necessary approvals and logistical planning.
“They are living, sentient beings and if we have the opportunity to save them through a safe and humane solution, we have a responsibility to try,” Ambani continued.
However, implementing such a project is considered difficult. According to the Ministry of the Environment, relocation abroad depends on other countries accepting the animals and issuing the appropriate permits. Requests to several countries – including India – have so far failed due to legal, technical and financial hurdles, the newspaper “El Tiempo” reported, citing the ministry.
80 hippos are to be culled
The Colombian government had announced that it would reduce the population of the invasive animals and initially kill around 80 hippos.
It is estimated that around 200 hippos currently live in Colombia. Without countermeasures, the population could rise to 1,000 individuals by 2035. Experts warn of damage to ecosystems and dangers to people.
The Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar once bought four African hippos for the zoo in his luxury estate Hacienda Nápoles. After the head of the Medellín cartel was shot by security forces in 1993, the property fell into disrepair. The hippos moved into the surrounding forests, reproduced vigorously and spread further and further. (sda/dpa)