Colombia Begins Sterilisation of Hippos Descended from Pablo Escobar's Pets

Government Plans to Control Invasive Species Population, Estimated to Reach 1,000 by 2035 if Unchecked

Colombia has begun sterilising hippos descended from animals illegally brought to the country by drug lord Pablo Escobar in the 1980s.
The government plans to sterilise 40 hippos a year, transfer others to different countries, and may euthanise some of the animals.
The hippos have no natural predators in Colombia and have been declared an invasive species that could upset the ecosystem.
Sterilisation takes time, because spotting and capturing the territorial, aggressive 3-ton animals is complicated.
The government estimates there are 169 hippos in Colombia - and that if no measures are taken, there could be 1,000 by 2035.