Ananth Ambani, son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, has proposed adopting 80 “cocaine hippos” in Colombia, which the government plans to cull due to their threat to native species. These hippos are descendants of animals brought by drug lord Pablo Escobar for a private zoo in the 1980s and have since multiplied to around 160.
Ambani, who runs the Vantara Conservation Center in India, has urged the Colombian government to reconsider and suggested relocating the hippos to his facility, emphasizing their rights as sentient beings. He stated his center could provide a safe environment tailored to their needs, stressing a commitment to humane treatment.
The Colombian government announced the culling to manage this invasive species impacting local ecosystems and is considering various relocation options. Vantara officials expressed readiness to discuss the proposal with Colombian authorities, seeking cooperation to find a solution while meeting all necessary legal and logistical requirements.
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