Pablo Escobar’s herd of randy cocaine hippos will be EXECUTED, judge rules, after beasts became ‘out of control’

In a controversial ruling, Colombian judges have ordered the execution of Pablo Escobar’s herd of “cocaine” hippos.

The “uncontrollable” animals, originally part of the cartel leader’s private collection at his Hacienda Nápoles estate, escaped after his death in 1993 and have since multiplied into a huge invasive population.

When Escobar was killed in a shootout with police in Medellin, authorities left behind four hippos, finding them too difficult to capture or relocate.

By 2007, the original animals had grown to a herd of 16 animals, which roamed the nearby Magdalena River in search of food.

Due to uncontrolled reproduction of hippos, their numbers have increased to around 200 over the years. This has led to significant ecological disruption and poses a threat to local wildlife and landscapes.

When Escobar (pictured) was killed in a police shooting in Medellin in 1993, authorities left behind four hippos, deeming them too difficult to capture. But numbers have exploded.

Now, judges at the administrative court in Cundinamarca have ruled that the state’s Environment Ministry must begin culling the animals within three months, the Sun.

Experts warn that the hippo population could rise to more than 1,000 if nothing is done, raising concerns about the risks to human life and local species.

Fishermen on the Magdalena River have reported attacks. Locals describe the species as “unpredictable” and “aggressive.” If you encounter one, the best thing to do is hide, the fishermen say.

Meanwhile, experts fear the hippos also pose a serious threat to endangered manatee populations.

Environmental lawyer Juan Pablo Sarmient stressed the urgency of the situation, stating: ‘The debate about what to do with invasive species is a global problem.

‘But since hippos have been in Colombia for so long, the situation has progressed to the point where it cannot continue any longer.

He added that such decisions must be taken to eradicate an invasive species before its environmental impact becomes “unmanageable.”

Francisco Sánchez, an environmental official, expressed these concerns and said earlier The guard: ‘They come all the way to the sea, because they just follow the Magdalena River. It’s completely out of control.’

Scientists have raised alarms about the impact of their waste on local waterways, as a single hippo can produce up to 9kg of feces every day.

People pose for photos at the entrance to the Hacienda Napoles theme park, once the private zoo of drug lord Pablo Escobar on his ranch in Napoles

Experts have warned that the hippo population could rise to more than 1,000 if left unchecked, raising concerns about the risk to human life and local species.

Scientists have raised alarms about the impact of their waste on local waterways, as a single hippo can produce up to 20 pounds of feces daily

While in Africa hippo waste plays an important role in maintaining ecosystems, Colombia’s flora and fauna cannot process this waste. This can cause significant damage to native species, including fish populations.

Previous attempts to control the hippo population through sterilization and translocation have had limited success.

Some conservation groups have even proposed moving the herd to Mexico as an alternative to culling.

Despite the court ruling, debate continues over how to address the invasive hippo population. Environmentalists and conservationists are calling for humane, science-based solutions to the crisis.

Meanwhile, a visitor to a safari park in Indonesia has been “asked to publicly apologize” after he risked killing a hippo by throwing a plastic bag into its mouth.

In a shocking video clip, the tourist from Taman Safari Park is seen holding a carrot in front of the hippo’s open mouth before throwing the bag in.