The Colombian government has officially authorised the euthanasia of a portion of the nation’s wild hippopotamus population, marking a drastic escalation in its battle against the invasive species.
Environment Minister Irene Vélez confirmed on Monday that the "euthanasia protocol" will target approximately 80 hippos as part of a multi-pronged strategy to manage an estimated 200 animals roaming the Magdalena River basin. The decision follows years of failed attempts to curb the herd's growth through surgical sterilisation and experimental birth control.
"Today, we are issuing a euthanasia protocol so that environmental authorities can do so in collaboration with institutes that support the view that this is a necessary measure," Vélez stated during a press briefing in Bogotá. She emphasised that without these measures, it would be "impossible to control the population," which scientists warn could reach 500 by 2030 and 1,000 by 2035 if left unchecked.
The government has earmarked approximately 7.2 billion pesos for the management plan, with operations expected to commence in the second half of 2026. This shift comes as previous methods, such as confinement and chemical castration, have proven both costly and ineffective against the descendants of the four animals originally imported by drug lord Pablo Escobar in the 1980s.
Beyond culling, Colombia continues to explore the relocation of hippos to sanctuaries in India and Mexico. However, the legal and logistical hurdles of transporting the massive herbivores across borders mean that euthanasia remains the most immediate tool for population control. Officials insist that every procedure will be conducted with strict adherence to international ethical standards to ensure the animals do not suffer.