Colombia's incoming environment minister halts hippo euthanasia plan, sparking debate

Incoming Environment Minister Fabio Arjona has ruled out lethal control of Pablo Escobar's hippos, reversing the previous government's euthanasia plan that was announced in May 2026. The decision has reignited debate among scientists and conservationists about how to manage the invasive species, whose population has grown from a handful to an estimated 280–300 individuals in the Magdalena Medio region.

What happened

Arjona, appointed by President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, stated that "control letal no va a ser una solución" (lethal control is not the solution) and called for "another more intelligent solution" Source: infobae. This contradicts the plan by the previous government under Gustavo Petro, which had allocated 7,000 million pesos to euthanize up to 80 hippos per year starting in May 2026 Source: larepublicaco. The euthanasia methods included chemical injection and physical shooting by certified marksmen.

Scientific concerns

Scientists have warned that removing lethal control risks worsening the hippo expansion. The population is growing at 8–14% annually and could reach 1,000 by 2035 Source: elcolombiano. Biologist Germán Jiménez from the Universidad Javeriana criticized the decision, saying: "Me parece un desacierto pretender sacar una de las acciones sin considerar que esto es un plan donde se complementan entre sí" Source: elcolombiano. Other experts noted that past non-lethal measures have had limited success:

• Only 35 hippos have been sterilized, 40 immunocastrated, and none relocated abroad after years of effort Source: elcolombiano.
• Translocations to Mexico, Ecuador, Philippines, and India have failed due to bureaucracy and lack of permits Source: elcolombiano.

Political divide

The policy shift highlights polarization between administrations. The previous government's studies concluded that sterilization alone was insufficient, while Arjona's team argues for alternative approaches. The scientific community remains divided, with some backing lethal control as a necessary tool Source: larepublicaco.