Hippos becoming a problem in Colombia, South America

@JudyEv (339764)

Rockingham, Australia

February 24, 2020 8:36am CST

Pablo Escobar and the Medellin Cartel were drug traffickers who amassed a fortune in Colombia, South America through their activities which included extortion and mass killings. When Escobar was killed in 1993, his private zoo included, among other things, four hippopotamuses. The other animals were taken away but the hippos were left behind. There are now at least 80 hippos living in the area around the river, the Rio Magdalena. While the hippos have brought increased numbers of tourist, their presence is displacing local species. They feed at night and cool off in the water during the day. They defecate in the water and now the chemistry in the lakes is changing. There have been outbreaks of algae blooming and red tide bacteria. It’s estimated that the hippo population would quadruple over the next ten years. The authorities are experimenting with surgical and chemical sterilisation but this is expensive. Again, Mother Nature is sending the message that it doesn’t pay to mess with her.

16 people like this

17 responses

@rebelann (112786)

• El Paso, Texas

24 Feb 20

Mother Nature is really ticked off at the human race being so narcissistic, to many of us do nothing but destroy and the few of us trying to help our planet are too few and far between. Mother Nature will win in the end though.

2 people like this

@TheHorse (218646)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Feb 20

Perhaps humans are not really necessary.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

I think you're right. The way the climate change is going, the spread of viruses etc, we need to be worried.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

@TheHorse No doubt the world would muddle along without us.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317040)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

24 Feb 20

Maybe it would be better if the government found a way to transport them back to their native habitat. It might be just as expensive as finding a local solution for the hippo problem.

2 people like this

@TheHorse (218646)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Feb 20

I do wonder why they left the hippos behind.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

I can only guess that it's very expensive to round them up and get rid of them but sterilisation would be just as difficult if not more so.

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

@TheHorse The elephants and giraffes were moved so why not the hippos?

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@simone10 (54187)

• Louisville, Kentucky

24 Feb 20

Wow, that's a lot of hippos!

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@simone10 (54187)

• Louisville, Kentucky

26 Feb 20

@JudyEv I wonder if they can move them to other areas?

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@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

It is and the more they breed, the larger the problem will become.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Feb 20

@simone10 I imagine the terrain isn't the easiest to work in if you're trying to herd hippos.

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@wolfgirl569 (106065)

• Marion, Ohio

24 Feb 20

The best way would probably be to relocate them or put them down.

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@wolfgirl569 (106065)

• Marion, Ohio

25 Feb 20

@JudyEv They are very heavily inbred if there was only 4. So maybe nature will take care of it soon herself.

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@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

@wolfgirl569 I hadn't thought of that but you're right of course.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

I think so too. Eventually there will be huge repercussions.

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@xFiacre (12980)

• Ireland

24 Feb 20

@judyev Nothing like a thunder of hippos in the back yard. Surely the keeping of wildlife like this must be a sign of great vanity.

2 people like this

@TheHorse (218646)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Feb 20

I thought that as well.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

Do you mean a private zoo? There are plenty of them around. Isn't that how England came to have a worrying population of muntjacs/barking deer? They escaped from Woburn Abbey grounds and are now found virtually throughout the British Isles.

1 person likes this

@BloggerDi (3113)

• United States

24 Feb 20

Very interesting post! Yes, your last sentence says a lot. The natural balance gets thrown off, and there are long term and varied consequences.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

Australia is a prime example yet it still keeps happening. The fox and rabbit were introduced. Camels, donkeys were left to run free. Cane toads were introduced. Humans will never learn.

1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (180558)

• United States

26 Feb 20

Hmm, very strange..but interesting

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Feb 20

What started as 4 hippos is now 80. If they don't do something, they'll end up with hundreds.

@RebeccasFarm (89880)

• Arvada, Colorado

24 Feb 20

So I was reading Judy..they were blaming Pablo Escobar

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

Yes. The hippos were part of his private zoo.

1 person likes this

@RebeccasFarm (89880)

• Arvada, Colorado

25 Feb 20

@JudyEv My question is why just why

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@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

@RebeccasFarm Exactly.

1 person likes this

@Carmelanirel2 (8084)

• United States

25 Feb 20

Oh no, it would have been better to put them back where they belong (Africa?) because taking an animal out of their natural habitat can cause issues like this.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Feb 20

That's so true. They will have an even bigger problem on their hands soon.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (218646)

• Walnut Creek, California

25 Feb 20

Interesting that criminals in an "unrelated business" could affect the environment like that.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

Yes, true. Apparently they removed the other animals which included elephants and giraffes. Probably a good thing they didn't leave them behind too although I guess the giraffes might have had a battle.

@JohnRoberts (109846)

• Los Angeles, California

24 Feb 20

That's fascinating. Too bad they couldn't remove to zoos or something.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

You'd think it would be at least as easy as trying to sterilise them. Although I don't think I'd like to try and yard an angry hippo.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

@myklj999 You should get a decent steak off a hippo - and hippo belly would surely beat pork belly.

1 person likes this

@Hannihar (130218)

• Israel

4 Mar 20

@JudyEv I hope they find a better solution that sterilizing them.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Mar 20

They would be very hard to relocate.

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@Hannihar (130218)

• Israel

4 Mar 20

@JudyEv That is very sad.

1 person likes this

@JustBhem (70555)

• Davao, Philippines

24 Feb 20

I like the last part.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

About Mother Nature? I wonder what the outcome will be here.

1 person likes this

@JustBhem (70555)

• Davao, Philippines

25 Feb 20

@JudyEv Yes, that quote.

1 person likes this

@DocAndersen (54402)

• United States

25 Feb 20

do not mess with mother nature! i am always curious why people need wild animals in cages.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

You'd have to wonder - why people need animals in cages.

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@DocAndersen (54402)

• United States

25 Feb 20

@JudyEv it doesn't make any sense to me

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@thelme55 (77004)

• Germany

24 Feb 20

I think it is best that those hippos have a place of their own like a zoo.

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@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

I think so too but that might be hard to accomplish now.

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@CarolDM (203422)

• Nashville, Tennessee

24 Feb 20

I had no idea. Thanks for this info. Animals are amazing.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

I guess it's good for tourism.

1 person likes this

@Butterfingers (66583)

• India

24 Feb 20

I wish they can find a good solution soon

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@JudyEv (339764)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Feb 20

It must be quite a worry for the authorities.

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