Pablo Escobar’s life is riddled with rather unbelievable tales.
One of the lesser known stories is how he built his personal zoo, the Hacienda Napoles. This is why 4 hippos were brought from America down to Colombia. When Escobar was arrested, the zoo was seized by government authorities.
Most of the animals were donated to zoos around the world. However, hippos proved to be a tough captive. All four of the hippos managed to escape their new human captors. Four decades later, the number of hippos have soared to around 80.
Experts agree that the hippos are having a great impact on the local ecosystem. The last hippos native to Colombia had gone extinct more than 10,000 years ago. Since then, no mammals of such size have resided in Colombia. With no natural predator, the small family of four was able to thrive in the lush natures of Colombia.
Researchers are now studying whether the hippos are a good or bad impact. One aspect that everyone is focusing on? The massive amounts of dung that the hippos produce.
A recent research conducted by Scientific American analyzed the impacts that these hippos are having. A key argument is that the hippos are filling the roles that multiple large mammals played before they went extinct.
To understand the effects that a hippo has, we must first understand their lifestyle. Contrary to their appearances, hippos are herbivorous animals. They graze on the riverbanks and spend most of their times in the river.
By feeding on plants by the riverbank, scientists believe that the hippo may be recreating the behaviors of large-headed llamas. Yet unlike the llama, the hippos redistribute these nutrients into the rivers. That was usually done by other more aquatic mammals.
The effects of this redistribution are still being researched. Some scientists believe that the hippos are enriching the river ecosystem. Others argue that hippo excrements are rendering the rivers inhospitable for the local fish.
The answer to that question is needed quickly. Hippo populations are known to grow exponentially. Much like how 4 hippos became 80, experts agree that the numbers will soar to thousands in the coming decades.
Moreover, increased numbers naturally yields more encounters between hippos and natives. Although herbivorous, hippos are a dangerous animal. In Africa, it is the animal that claims that most lives.
What are your opinions on this issue? Should the hippos be allowed to frolic, or should their numbers be controlled? Share your thoughts with us in the comments, and follow us on Facebook for more news.
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