Pablo Escobar’s hippos seize the swamps of Colombia and must face the same fate as their late owner before they are impossible to control, scientists have warned.
The so-called “cocaine hippos” were illegally imported into the country by the notorious drug lord, who was shot dead by authorities in 1993, the Telegraph reported.
But fast-breeding beasts have grown to become the largest invasive species on the planet and could reach a dangerous number in the next two decades.
“No one likes the idea of shooting a hippo, but we have to accept that no other strategy will work,” environmentalist Nataly Castelblanco-Martinez told the outlet.
When Escobar was killed, authorities took control of his 7,000-acre estate, including a personal zoo.
Although most of the animals found homes in zoos elsewhere, four of the hippos escaped.
Without real predators, there are between 80 and 100 descendants of Escobar’s ancient pets that landed in the country’s lakes and rivers, the Telegraph reports.
Scientists have projected that the population of hippos could reach 1,500 by 2024.
Hippos pose a threat to natural wildlife, as urine and feces are toxic and can darken other species and even humans, the Telegraph reports.
David Echeverri Lopez, a government environmentalist, said they were running to castrate the critters before they took over.
“These hippos have become part of the local identity. But time is running out, ”he said.
But others fear there is no choice but to kill them.
“The move could have been possible 30 years ago, when there were only four hippos,” Castelblanco-Martinez told the dam.
“Castration could also have been effective if officials had provided sufficient resources for the program in the beginning, but now a single option is to eliminate it.”