Colombia grapples with hippo problems for farmers and environment

Conducting surgical castration on the male population is an option, according to Valderrama, but this could cost as much as $20,000 per animal. Helicopters and cranes must be used to transport each hippo, due to its weight, which could tip the scales at four tons.

"The more time passes, the more difficult the situation becomes," Valderrama said.

Along with hippos, 22 other plant and animal species are invading Colombia, according to an official list published by the government and updated in 2022. It includes, among others, the lionfish, the American bullfrog and even rainbow and brown trout.

At the COP15 United Nations biodiversity summit held in Canada in December, the subject of invasive species was discussed. One of the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is to reduce the introduction and establishment of invasive alien species by at least 50 percent by 2030.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.