Invasive ‘Cocaine Hippos’ Are Being Sterilized in Colombia
To deal with invasive hippos that were brought to Colombia by drug lord Pablo Escobar, the nation’s government is sterilizing, exporting and euthanizing the animals
Mike Korostelev reveals a hippopotamus and her two offspring resting in the shallow clear-water lake. Hippos produce one calf every two to three years. Their slow-growing population is particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation, drought, and illegal hunting for meat and ivory from their teeth. Location: Kosi Bay, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa
Photograph: Mike Korostelev/2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year