Authorities in northwestern Colombia have successfully rescued a newborn hippopotamus discovered alone on the banks of a river, according to a report filed August 5, 2026, at 1:25 PM EDT. The animal, which was found by local fishermen in a rural area of the Puerto Nare municipality in Antioquia, showed clear signs of malnutrition and advanced dehydration when it was located hidden in riverbank bushes.
Javier Valencia, director of the regional environmental authority, confirmed the rescue in a statement released on Tuesday. Following its initial discovery, veterinarians provided the young hippo with treatment to stabilize its condition. Once stabilized, the animal was transported to a dedicated sanctuary located at Hacienda Napoles, the former estate of the late drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, which now operates as a theme park.
The rescued hippo is one of approximately 200 such animals currently living in the wild in Colombia. These hippos, often referred to as "cocaine hippos," are descendants of a small colony of four animals imported by Escobar in the 1980s for his private zoo. Following the death of the Medellin cartel leader in 1993, the hippos escaped and established a population along the Magdalena River.
The rapid growth of the colony has led to significant ecological concerns. Independent journalist Audrey Huse, a long-time resident of Colombia, has noted that the hippos roam freely without natural predators, leading to booming population numbers. These animals disrupt the local ecosystem by consuming large quantities of grassland and fouling rivers with waste, which threatens endemic species such as otters, manatees, and turtles.
Because the hippos are now officially classified as an invasive species, the Colombian government approved a plan this year to cull approximately 80 of them after previous attempts to control their population through sterilization proved ineffective. While the government has explored the possibility of transferring the animals to overseas sanctuaries, the effort remains cost-prohibitive, with estimates reaching $3.5 million. The current population in Colombia remains the largest colony of hippos found outside of Africa.
