Indian billionaire heir Anant Ambani has offered a lifeline to 80 of Pablo Escobar’s infamous “cocaine hippos” in Colombia.
“We are willing to receive and care for these hippos in a specially designed and enriched environment, conceived to guarantee their well-being while reflecting the key characteristics of their current habitat,” a statement published Monday said.
According to CNN, it was signed by Vantara CEO Vivaan Karani on Ambani’s behalf.
The offer comes weeks after Colombia announced plans to cull 80 of the animals, a move that sparked debate.
Authorities cited their uncontrolled population growth, which led to the species being classified as invasive in the Magdalena River basin in March 2022.
The semi-aquatic animals, popularly known as “cocaine hippos,” were left behind by Escobar, one of history’s most notorious cartel kingpins, after he died in the early 1990s.
They are descended from four hippopotamuses illegally imported by Escobar in the 1980s, and their population has since grown to more than 200, posing a growing threat to Colombia’s ecosystems.
According to the BBC, Escobar kept the animals at his ranch, Hacienda Nápoles, a luxury estate about 250km northwest of Bogotá.
After his death, the hippos were left to roam freely and multiplied along the Magdalena River basin.
Environmentalists say the herd is now the largest outside Africa and has displaced native species by consuming vegetation, polluting waterways and posing risks to both wildlife and humans.
Amid concerns over a potential cull, Ambani appealed on social media, saying: “These 80 hippos did not choose where to be born, nor did they create the circumstances they now face.”
He added that he is willing to house them at Vantara, his private wildlife facility in Gujarat.
The 3,500-acre centre in Jamnagar houses more than 2,000 species, including elephants and tigers, and is located near Jamnagar Refinery.
The site also drew global attention in 2024 when it hosted part of Ambani’s lavish pre-wedding celebrations.
Colombian authorities have not publicly responded to the offer.