Colombia's wild hippos—Escobar's legacy—now reshape ecosystems and tourism
A unique herd of wild hippos in Doradal, Colombia, has drawn global attention. The animals, descended from four smuggled by Pablo Escobar decades ago, now number around 200. Their presence has reshaped the local environment—and even the soundscape—while becoming a tourist magnet. The hippos first arrived in Colombia in the 1980s, when drug lord Pablo Escobar illegally imported four for his private zoo. After his death, they escaped and bred in the wild. Today, they form the only wild herd outside Africa, roaming freely around Doradal.
Their impact on the ecosystem is significant. By depositing large amounts of waste in lakes and riverbeds, they alter water chemistry. Underwater plants have declined, disrupting the local food chain. Yet despite these challenges, the hippos have become a cultural fixture. Locals and tourists gather by the lakes to watch them, and businesses now sell hippo-themed souvenirs. The Colombian government is reviewing a proposal to manage the growing population. Meanwhile, Indian billionaire Anant Ambani has offered to relocate 80 of the animals to his Vantara wildlife reserve in Gujarat. Authorities plan to combine such efforts with broader strategies to control the hippos’ environmental effects.
The hippos of Doradal remain both a conservation puzzle and a tourist draw. With around 200 now living in the wild, their future depends on balancing ecological concerns with local interests. The government’s next steps will determine how this unusual herd is managed in the years ahead.
