Pablo Escobar's so-called cocaine hippos must be culled as they pose a threat to the natural wildlife of Colombia, scientists argue.
Otherwise, scientists warn, the species could become impossible to control.
As reported by the New York Post, the animals were brought to the country illegally by the late founder of the Medellín Cartel, who died in December of 1993 after being fatally shot by the authorities.
The large animals are breeding at a rapid rate and have now become the largest invasive species in the world. In the next 20 years, the hippos could reach worrying numbers.
Related video - Pablo Escobar's brother, Roberto, has launched his own foldable smartphone, accompanied by a very sexy commercial:"Nobody likes the idea of shooting a hippo, but we have to accept that no other strategy is going to work," ecologist Nataly Castelblanco-Martínez told the Telegraph.
When the infamous drug lord was shot dead, authorities took control of his 7,000-acre estate, which included his own personal zoo.
The majority of the animals were transported to zoos in other locations, however, four of the hippos managed to escape.
Per the Telegraph, as they have no predators to watch out for, the estimated numbers of descendants of Escobar's original hippos range between 80 and 100.
They are a real danger to wildlife around the country’s lakes and rivers. Furthermore, according to scientists, the hippo population could rise exponentially to a staggering 1,500 by the year 2040.
The hippos threaten the existence of natural wildlife as their urine and feces are toxic and could make people as well as other animals ill, the Telegraph reports.
David Echeverri Lopez, a government environmentalist, said they have to castrate the animals as quickly as possible before they take over the habitat.
"These hippos have become part of the local identity. But time is running out," he said.
However, other scientists argue the only way to reduce their numbers is to cull them.
"Relocation might have been possible 30 years ago, when there were only four hippos," Castelblanco-Martínez told the Telegraph.
"Castration could also have been effective if officials had provided sufficient resources for the program early on, but a cull is now the only option."
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