Hippopotamus calf dies following rescue attempt in Antioquia

A newborn hippopotamus, a descendant of the animals originally brought to Colombia by Pablo Escobar, has died following a rescue attempt in the Antioquia department. The animal, approximately 15 days old, was discovered alone by fishermen in a rural area near Puerto Nare, trapped in vegetation.

Veterinarians from the environmental corporation Cornare reported that the calf suffered from chronic dehydration, malnutrition, and an acute gastrointestinal condition. Despite efforts to stabilize the animal at the Hacienda Nápoles theme park, it did not respond to treatment and passed away.

The death highlights the ongoing management challenges of the invasive hippopotamus population in Colombia. Descended from animals escaped from Escobar's estate in the 1980s, the species has grown into the largest colony outside of Africa, impacting the Magdalena River ecosystem. The Colombian government has previously discussed plans to manage the population after sterilization efforts proved unsuccessful.