Colombian officials have decided to cull up to 80 hippos descended from animals brought to the country by drug lord Pablo Escobar in the 1980s. The environment minister, Irene Vélez, stated that previous attempts to control the hippo population, including neutering and relocation, have failed due to high costs and limited effectiveness. The hippos, which now number around 170 in the wild, threaten local ecosystems by competing for resources and posing dangers to villagers. Despite their environmental impact, the hippos have become a tourist attraction, with local businesses offering hippo spotting tours. Activists, including senator Andrea Padilla, have condemned the culling plan as cruel, arguing for more humane solutions to the issue. The hippos' unique situation stems from their origins in Escobar's private zoo, located at Hacienda Nápoles, which has since been transformed into a theme park. The culling plan raises significant ethical concerns amid ongoing debates about wildlife management in Colombia.