environment
April 30, 2026
Colombia responded to the Indian billionaire's proposal to take in Pablo Escobar's hippos
The hippos in Colombia have caused an environmental emergency. Photo: Guillermo Ossa - El Tiempo
TL;DR
- Colombia has formally consulted the Indian government to assess the feasibility of relocating 80 invasive hippos to the Vantara conservation center in Gujarat.
- The hippo population in Colombia originated from animals illegally imported by Pablo Escobar in the 1980s and has since become an ecological threat.
- Anant Ambani's Vantara center has offered to receive and care for 80 of these hippos, following the failure of previous control methods like chemical castration.
- The Colombian Ministry of Environment is seeking official authorization from India's CITES authority, requiring confirmation of import permits, Vantara's technical capacity, and knowledge of the animals' final destination.
- This potential relocation is part of Colombia's broader plan adopted in 2024 to manage invasive species and protect native ecosystems and communities.