Mukesh Ambani's son offers to relocate Colombia's 'cocaine hippos'

New Delhi. Indian billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani's youngest son Anant Ambani has proposed to save Colombia's famous 'cocaine hippos'. The Colombian government plans to kill the hippos. He has proposed to save 80 of them. 

These hippos were brought by notorious drug trafficker Pablo Escobar in the 1980s for his private zoo. Now their number has increased to about 160 and they are posing a threat to the local biodiversity.

Colombia recently announced plans to kill 80 of these hippos for control, which has caused controversy. Meanwhile, Ambani has proposed to relocate and safely house these hippos at his wildlife conservation center 'Bantala' in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. It is said that the center houses more than 150,000 animals of more than 2,000 species.

Ambani said on social media, "These hippos did not choose where they were born, nor did they create the situation they are currently facing." He wrote that since these animals are alive and sensitive creatures, it is our responsibility to try to save them in a safe and humane way.

Currently, these hippos reside around Hacienda Napoles, which was previously Escobar's private property and is now used as a tourist area. Through a letter signed by Bantala CEO Vivan Karani on behalf of Anant, Colombian Environment Minister Irene Vélez Torres has been urged to reconsider the decision.

The statement said that if the Colombian government accepts the request, all necessary approvals, permits, due diligence processes, biosecurity requirements, and logistics plans will be strictly fulfilled.