- Colombia has approved a plan to cull 80 hippos, an invasive species whose population, originating from drug lord Pablo Escobar's private zoo, is expected to exceed 500 by 2030.
- The decision follows previous unsuccessful attempts to control the hippo population, which poses a threat to native species and local communities.
- Anant Ambani, son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, has formally offered to relocate the 80 hippos to his Vantara animal centre in Gujarat, India.
- Ambani's proposal aims to suspend the euthanasia plan, offering lifelong care for the animals at his 2,500-acre facility.
- Animal welfare activists in Colombia oppose the culling, while the hippos have become a tourist attraction, and Vantara has previously faced scrutiny over animal sourcing, though it was exonerated by India's Supreme Court.
IN FULL
