CENTRAL COLOMBIA — Colombian officials on Monday authorized a plan to cull dozens of hippos roaming freely through a region in the center of the country. Environment Minister Irene Vélez said up to 80 hippos would be affected by the measure, though she did not say when hunting would begin.

"If we don't do this we will not be able to control the population," Vélez said during a press conference in Bogota on April 13, 2026, about measures the government will take to curb hippo reproduction. "We have to take this action to preserve our ecosystems," she added.

Colombia is the only country outside of Africa with a wild hippo population. In the 1980s, Pablo Escobar imported four hippos to stock a private zoo at Hacienda Nápoles ranch in the Magdalena River valley. The ranch was later confiscated by the Colombian government when it seized Escobar's properties and now functions as a theme park featuring swimming pools, water slides, and a zoo that includes several other African species.

A study published by Colombia's National University estimated that around 170 hippos were roaming freely in the country in 2022. Colombia has declared the hippos an invasive species. Hippos have recently been spotted in areas more than 60 miles north of Hacienda Nápoles, and villagers have encountered the animals on farms and in rivers. The hippos compete for food and space against local species such as river manatees.

"Because they are such large animals, they consume considerable amounts of grassland and produce significant waste, which then poisons the rivers," independent journalist Audrey Huse said. Residents of villages surrounding Hacienda Nápoles offer hippo-spotting tours and sell hippo-themed souvenirs.

Over the past 12 years, spanning three presidential administrations, Colombia has tried to neuter some of the hippos to reduce their population. Previous methods to control the population also included moving some hippos to zoos. Those neutering initiatives had limited scope due to the high costs of capturing the dangerous animals and performing surgeries. The government previously arranged for the possible transfer of hippos to overseas sanctuaries, at an estimated cost of $3.5 million. Returning the hippos to their natural habitat in Africa has been considered unfeasible because Colombia's hippos come from a limited gene pool and could carry diseases.

Senator and animal rights activist Andrea Padilla described the plan as a "cruel" decision and accused government officials of trying to take the easy way out. "Killings and massacres will never be acceptable," Padilla said.