Ambani Proposes Relocating 80 Hippos from Colombia

Anant Ambani, son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani and founder of the Vantara wildlife rescue center, has proposed relocating 80 hippopotamuses from Colombia to his facility in Gujarat, India, as an alternative to the South American nation's plan to cull the invasive animals.

The offer, submitted formally to Colombian officials this week, comes amid the government's recent decision to authorize the killing of up to 80 hippos to manage their growing population along the Magdalena River. These animals descend from four hippos imported in the 1980s by Pablo Escobar for his private zoo at Hacienda Nápoles. After Escobar's death in 1993, the hippos escaped, reproduced unchecked and now number between 170 and 200. Officials cite their territorial behavior, attacks on fishermen and damage to local ecosystems, including threats to native species like manatees and river turtles, as reasons for action.

Colombia's Environment Minister Irene Vélez stated earlier this month that without intervention, the population could reach 500 by 2030. "Without this action, it is impossible to control the population," she said at a press conference on April 13. Previous efforts, including...