An Indian billionaire, Anant Ambani who is heir and son of the Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has stepped forward and offered to save the lives of 80 “cocaine hippos” belonging to Pablo Escobar from being euthanized in Columbia this week.
Earlier last month, the Columbian government approved a plan to kill up to 80 hippopotamuses as part of a $1.98 million initiative to control the population which began in the 1980s by drug lord Pablo Escobar. The hippos are all descendants of four hippos brought over to Escobar’s private zoo at Hacienda Napoles.
Pablo Escobar, who was the leader of the Medellin drug cartel, was shot and killed in 1993 while trying to evade authorities. Much of his estimated $25 billion fortune was seized by the Colombian government or stolen by rivals. Urban legend claims a significant amount of his money is still buried throughout the country.
The Ministry of Environmental and Sustainable Development said that the hippo population had grown to 170 – 200 and now threaten local ecosystems by displacing river manatees and turtles while posing a danger to local communities.
According to experts, if the hippo population is not controlled, they could reach 500 by 2030. These animals normally weigh about 4.5 tons each.
Following Colombia’s announcement to euthanize 80 of the approximately 160–200 invasive hippos, Ambani proposed to relocate them to his privately run wildlife sanctuary in Vantara, India. The 3,500 acre sanctuary is one of the world’s largest animal rescue, rehabilitation and conservation centers.
The rescue team proposed their transfer using veterinarians and will accept the full costs of the transportation.
These 80 hippos did not choose where to be born, nor did they create the circumstances they now face are living, sentient beings, and if we have the capacity to save them through a safe and humane solution, we have the responsibility to try.
At this time, the wildlife sanctuary is home to 150,000 animals from over 2,000 wildlife species.
Thus far, the Columbian government has not yet formally agreed although talks are continuing.
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