Escobar back in the headlines as Colombia squawks over his infamous hippos and lingering drug-cartel legacy; once the “King of Cocaine,” dead in 1993.
Colombia has announced plans to cull up to 80 hippos descended from Pablo Escobar's private zoo. The decision follows unsuccessful efforts to control their population through neutering and relocation. The hippos threaten local communities and native species, and the government is shifting to population control measures, including hunting, to prevent their numbers from increasing further. This story is current as of Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:00:57 +0100.