Colombia’s wildlife crisis involving the “cocaine hippos” of infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar has once again drawn global attention after authorities approved plans to cull dozens of the animals. The descendants of four hippopotamuses illegally imported by Escobar in the 1980s, these animals have multiplied rapidly in Colombia’s Magdalena River basin. With no natural predators and ideal swampy conditions, the population has grown into the largest wild hippo herd outside Africa. The Colombian government has declared them an invasive species. They threaten native biodiversity, compete with local fauna, alter aquatic ecosystems, and have also attacked fishing communities living along the riverbanks. After Escobar was killed in 1993, most of the animals from his estate were removed. The hippos, however, were left behind. With Colombia’s warm weather, abundant rivers, and no natural predators, the animals adapted quickly. They began breeding rapidly and slowly spread far beyond the boundaries of the old estate.…