Indian billionaire heir offers to save 80 of Pablo Escobar’s ‘cocaine hippos’ from Colombian cull
CNN • • world
Key Points:
- Indian magnate Anant Ambani has offered to relocate 80 invasive "cocaine hippos" from Colombia to his wildlife sanctuary, Vantara, in Gujarat, India, to prevent their planned culling by the Colombian government.
- The hippos, descendants of animals introduced by drug lord Pablo Escobar in the 1980s, have grown to about 160 individuals and are threatening native species in Colombia's Magdalena River basin.
- Ambani's proposal emphasizes humane treatment and lifetime care in a specially designed habitat, and Vantara officials have invited dialogue with Colombian authorities to explore the initiative.
- Colombia's Environment Minister Irene Vélez Torres justified the culling plan due to ecological risks and population growth projections, while also considering but facing challenges with international relocation options.
- The Colombian government has yet to respond to Ambani's offer, which would require strict approvals, biosecurity measures, and logistical planning before any transfer could occur.
