The son of an Indian billionaire has offered to take in 80 hippos from Colombia after officials approved a plan to euthanise the animals, whose population is expected to exceed 500 by 2030 without intervention. The hippos, an invasive species in Colombia, are descendants of animals illegally brought to the country in the 1980s by the late drug kingpin Pablo Escobar for his private zoo at Hacienda Nápoles.
Anant Ambani, son of tycoon Mukesh Ambani, has formally requested the Colombian government to translocate the animals to his animal centre, Vantara, in Jamnagar, Gujarat. In a letter to Colombia's environment ministry, Mr Ambani urged officials to 'suspend the proposed decision to euthanise 80 hippopotamuses in the Magdalena River basin' and consider relocating them to Vantara for 'lifelong care'.
With no natural predators and abundant water in Colombia's rivers, the hippo population has grown from four to over 100 and is still expanding. Earlier this month, the Colombian government approved culling after previous control attempts, including castration, proved too expensive or ineffective. Colombia is the only country outside Africa with a wild hippo population.
Vantara zoo, which spans 2,500 acres and houses up to 2,000 species, has faced controversy over allegations of sourcing animals from Indian states involving precarious journeys. However, an investigation by India's Supreme Court last year exonerated Vantara of wrongdoing. The zoo is not open to the public but has hosted high-profile visits by Lionel Messi, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg.
'These 80 hippos did not choose where they were born, nor did they create the circumstances they now face,' Mr Ambani said. 'They are living, sentient beings, and if we have the ability to save them through a safe and humane solution, we have a responsibility to try.' Environmental authorities in Colombia say the hippos pose a threat to villagers and compete with local species such as river manatees.
