PATTAYA, Thailand – A global wildlife controversy is unfolding after Anant Ambani stepped in with an unusual proposal—offering to relocate dozens of invasive hippos linked to notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar from Colombia to India.
According to CNN, the hippos are descendants of animals illegally imported by Escobar in the 1980s for his private zoo at Hacienda Nápoles. Over the decades, the population has exploded, reaching around 160 animals, and is now considered a serious threat to Colombia’s native ecosystems.
The government in Bogotá recently announced plans to cull around 80 of the animals, sparking international criticism from conservationists and animal rights advocates.
In response, Ambani—known not only for his wealth but also for his interest in wildlife conservation—has formally requested that the Colombian government reconsider. He has предложed relocating the hippos to Vantara, a massive private conservation center in Jamnagar, India.
“Those 80 hippos did not choose where they were born, nor the situation they now face,” Ambani said in a statement shared on social media. “They are living beings with emotions, and if we have the ability to help them through a humane and safe solution, we have a responsibility to do so.”
Vantara, located in the western Indian state of Gujarat, is home to more than 150,000 animals across over 2,000 species, according to official information.
The proposal was formally submitted earlier this week by Vivaan Karani, CEO of the Vantara center, in a letter on Ambani’s behalf to Colombian Environment Minister Irene Vélez Torres. The letter urges authorities to halt the planned culling and consider relocation instead.
Meanwhile, Colombia’s Environment Ministry has acknowledged exploring alternative solutions, including relocating some of the hippos to countries such as Ecuador, Peru, the Philippines, India, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, South Africa, and Chile. However, many of these options have faced logistical and regulatory challenges.
The hippos currently roam freely around the former estate of Escobar in Puerto Triunfo, which has since been transformed into a tourist attraction. Despite their unlikely origin, they have become one of the most controversial invasive species in the world—caught between conservation concerns and animal welfare debates.
As pressure mounts, Ambani’s proposal has added a new dimension to the debate, raising the possibility of an international rescue effort for one of the most unusual wildlife populations on Earth.
