Indian Billionaire's Son Anant Ambani Offers Vantara Zoo for Pablo Escobar's Hippos
Anant Ambani, son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, has extended an offer to rehome a herd of hippopotamuses currently located in Colombia. These animals are descendants of two hippos illegally imported by notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar, who was killed by police in 1993.
Known as the "cocaine hippos", the population expanded significantly following Escobar's death. Colombia has struggled to control their proliferation through methods such as castration, and has now committed to culling approximately 80 of the animals.
Ambani's Vantara zoo, situated in Gujarat state, India, has stated its readiness to provide "lifelong care" for the herd. A letter to Colombia's environment minister, published on the zoo's Instagram, asserted Vantara's commitment to protecting life. Colombian authorities have yet to issue a public response to the offer.
The hippos were originally kept at Escobar's Hacienda Nápoles ranch, 250km north-west of Bogotá. After his demise, the animals roamed freely and bred extensively along the Magdalena River basin. The fertile, swampy conditions of the Antioquia region, coupled with an absence of natural predators, created an ideal environment for the African native species to flourish, forming the largest wild hippo herd outside of Africa.
Colombian environmentalists identify the hippos as an invasive species, displacing native fauna. Fishing communities along the Magdalena River have also reported attacks from these animals, which can weigh up to three tonnes.
Vantara zoo, a 3,500-acre facility in Jamnagar, near Mukesh Ambani's oil refinery, houses 2,000 species. The private zoo, which gained international attention for hosting Anant Ambani's 2024 pre-wedding festivities, has faced criticism from wildlife advocates regarding the suitability of the hot, dry climate for certain animals.
Pablo Escobar, head of the Medellín cartel, amassed an estimated $30 billion fortune from drug trafficking into the US. His criminal enterprise involved kidnappings, murders, bribery, and bombings.
