Colombia Weighs Hippo Cull as River Communities Split Over Safety and Tourism

By Blessing Nweke

Along the Magdalena River, fishermen navigate murky waters with heightened caution as an unlikely threat lurks beneath the surface: a rapidly growing population of hippopotamuses. Once introduced decades ago, the animals have multiplied across vast  turning daily routines into high-risk encounters.

“These hippos are a true nightmare,” said fisherman Wilinton Sánchez, describing a recent attack in which one lunged toward his boat, jaws agape. Known to reach speeds of 5 mph in water and up to 18 mph on land, the animals pose a serious danger to river communities.

Authorities warn the population could surpass 500 by 2030 without intervention. In response, Colombia’s Environment Ministry has approved a plan to euthanize about 80 hippos later this year. The proposal has sparked intense backlash, with scientists receiving threats and animal rights activists condemning the move as inhumane.

In the town of Puerto Triunfo, residents are deeply divided. Business owner Diana Hincapié fears the plan could devastate tourism. Her riverside restaurant attracts visitors eager to see the animals, which many locals now view as part of Colombia’s identity.

“They aren’t African anymore; they are Colombian,” she said, vowing to protest the cull.

Others, like fisherman Álvaro Molina, argue the animals have already crippled livelihoods. He recalls a close encounter that capsized his boat, reinforcing fears that have driven many away from fishing.

Experts say the hippos, now spread across roughly 43,000 square kilometers, disrupt ecosystems and lack natural predators. While alternatives like relocation and confinement are under consideration, logistical and legal challenges have stalled efforts, leaving euthanasia as the most immediate  and controversial  solution.