Authorities in Colombia have sterilized 25 hippos on the former farm of the late drug lord Pablo Escobar. Corner, an environmental protection organization, said Friday (local time) that the animals were growing uncontrollably. Escobar kept two hippos and other exotic animals on the farm, such as giraffes, zebras and kangaroos.
After his death, all animals were sold – except hippos. These were bred into a herd of 80 animals.
Corner said 24 hippos were given a drug called gonacon with the help of arrows. It is an effective contraceptive for both men and women. Another eleven hippos were routinely sterilized.
The zoo was opened as a tourist attraction
Probably the largest hippopotamus crowd outside of Africa caused the most problems. “Having these animals in an ecosystem that does not belong to them has consequences similar to the migration of native animals,” said Corner employee David Echevery. The animals also attacked the fishermen several times.
After Escobar’s death in 1933, a dispute arose over the ownership of his farm 400 km northwest of the capital, Bogot. The private zoo “Hasinda Naples” has finally opened to attract tourists. (AFP)