Land, Women, and Dangers:

🦛 Land, Women, and Dangers: The Unexpected Inheritance of Escobar’s Hippos

In Colombia, an incredible but worrying story is unfolding along the banks of the Magdalena River. Part of the famous Hacienda Nápoles, once owned by drug lord Pablo Escobar, has been returned to victims of the armed conflict, mainly women farmers who were displaced by violence.

For them, this land represents hope, justice, and the possibility to start again. 🌱✨ However, it also brings an unexpected and dangerous challenge: the hippos Escobar illegally imported in the 1980s, which have now multiplied without control.

⚠️ The Problem of the “Cocaine Hippos”

• Dangerous invaders: They are not native to Colombia and have no natural predators here.
• Human risk: Hippos are considered one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. They are territorial, unpredictable, and capable of violent attacks.
• Environmental impact: They disrupt aquatic ecosystems, displace local species, and contaminate water sources.
• Threat to food security: The women now farming this land risk having their crops destroyed—and worse, facing animals that weigh over a ton.

👩‍🌾 Women on the Frontline of Risk

The farmers who received these hectares see them as an opportunity to heal and rebuild their lives. But every day they face the fear of a hippo showing up in their fields or paths. A single attack could be fatal. 😢

🔍 What Solutions Exist?

• Sterilization of the animals to control the population.
• Transfers to zoos or sanctuaries, though costly and complex.
• Community education to reduce dangerous encounters.

But much more is needed. The communities urgently require immediate support: fencing, emergency plans, alert systems, and institutional backing.

🌸 Reflection

It’s a sad paradox: land returned to repair the wounds of violence now places at risk the very people who most deserve peace. The story of these women symbolizes resilience and the fight for dignity. 🌸💪

The hippos are an absurd legacy of Escobar’s extravagance, and today they’ve become a national and global problem. The world should look at Antioquia not with morbid fascination, but with solidarity and commitment to help solve this challenge in a humane and just way.