A 15-day-old hippopotamus descended from the herd introduced to Colombia by Pablo Escobar has died despite efforts by veterinarians to save its life. The animal was found days earlier in a rural area of the department of Antioquia in northwestern Colombia.
Fishermen found the calf alone and hidden among bushes alongside a river, according to Colombian environmental authorities. The young animal was separated from its mother and was in very delicate health.
Following the rescue, workers transferred the calf to a hippopotamus sanctuary at Hacienda Nápoles, the former estate of Pablo Escobar that now operates as a theme park. Veterinarians explained that the calf suffered from chronic dehydration, malnutrition, and a severe gastrointestinal condition that complicated its recovery. The animal died a few days later despite receiving care.
Escobar's hippopotamus herd in Colombia
The calf belonged to a population descended from four hippopotamuses that Pablo Escobar imported for his private zoo at Hacienda Nápoles during the 1980s. Following the death of the drug trafficker, the animals were left free and began to reproduce.
An estimated 200 hippopotamuses now live in the region, forming the largest colony of the species outside Africa. Colombian authorities consider the animals an invasive species and express concern over their presence. After attempting to control reproduction through sterilization for years, the government approved a plan this year to euthanize nearly 80 hippopotamuses.
