Colombia Rescues Malnourished Newborn Hippo as Escobar Descendants Swell to 200
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Aug 5
Colombia Rescues Malnourished Newborn Hippo as Escobar Descendants Swell to 200
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Aug 5
Summary
Fishermen in Puerto Nare found the newborn hippo alone in riverside bushes, prompting authorities in Antioquia to rescue it with severe dehydration and malnutrition.
Veterinarians stabilized the calf and moved it to a hippo sanctuary at Hacienda Napoles, the former Escobar estate where the original four hippos were kept.
Colombia now has about 200 wild hippos descended from those animals, forming the largest hippo colony outside Africa.
The booming population has damaged the Magdalena River ecosystem, killed fish, threatened species including manatees and turtles, and at times attacked residents.
After sterilization efforts failed, the government approved a cull this year; overseas transfers have also been explored but were estimated to cost $3.5 million.