Indian Billionaire Offers Hippo Haven in India

0:00On April 29th, an Indian billionaire's son, Anant Ambani, just stepped up with a big offer to save 80 hippos in Colombia. These are the descendants of animals, Pablo Escobar brought over from Africa in the 1980s. Colombian officials plan to call them to control the growing population that's messing up local rivers and ecosystems, but Ambani wants to relocate. Them instead, to his massive Vantara Animal Center in Gujarat, India. Vantara is already packed with hundreds of elephants, over 150 big cats, like tigers and lions, and even 900 crocodiles. It's built as one of the world's largest rescue and conservation spots, right next to a huge oil refinery. Ambani submitted a detailed plan for safe, vet-led transport, and a custom habitat for the hippos. The hippos have turned into a real headache since Escobar's death, attacking fishermen and breeding out of control along the Magdalena River. Colombia tried neutering some over the past 12 years, but it's been too costly and tough with these massive, dangerous animals weighing several, tons each.

1:07Sending them back to Africa won't work due to diseases and a limited gene pool. Animal welfare folks in Colombia have pushed back hard against killing them, saying it's wrong after years of violence in the country. The hippos even draw tourists now, with hippo tours and souvenirs around Escobar's oldest state, turned into a theme park. Ambani's pitch emphasizes that these hippos didn't ask for this life, and with the right setup, Vantara can give them a humane home on Colombia's. Terms. It's a fresh shot at saving them without the coal, putting global animal care in the spotlight.