The four hippos of Pablo Escobar, abandoned to their fate in a private zoo, disturb the ecosystem of Colombia. Since the death of the drug trafficker in 1993, some animals have managed to escape from the "Hacienda Nápoles", the huge residence located 150 km from Medellín where they encountered ostriches, giraffes and elephants, reports La Republica .
The pachyderms then reproduced. Their population would now reach 80 individuals. And according to American researchers, their presence represents a significant threat to the surrounding environment, they explain in a study published on January 28 in the journal Ecology .
"Negative Consequences" on Water Quality
Indeed, hippos make their needs in water, modifying the chemical composition of rivers and lakes and altering the oxygen level of the aquatic environment, the study shows. Thus, their presence "will have negative consequences on water quality and aquatic resources because of the proliferation of harmful algae and bacteria," said the report's lead author, Jonathan Shurin.
The researchers recall that hippos have already had a “strong impact on the ecosystems of Africa” and appeal to the Colombian authorities to take the necessary measures to limit the population. "Over the next twenty years, there could be thousands," warn the scientists.
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