Confinement, transfer or death<\/p>\n
As one of the largest terrestrial mammals on Earth, hippopotamuses have now spread across approximately 43,000 square kilometers (16,600 square miles), according to Environment Ministry estimates.<\/p>\n
With no natural predators and a stable, drought-free climate \u2014 a stark departure from their native Africa \u2014 the animals found a sanctuary on the \u201cIsland of Silence,\u201d<\/a> a vegetation-covered river island that has become the heart of their expanding colony.<\/p>\n \u00c1lvaro Molina, 61, who lives on the riverbank opposite the island, recalls that the first pair arrived roughly 11 years ago. Since then, the population has surged. \u201cOne night I saw 12 at once, but I understand they have been migrating,\u201d the fisherman says.<\/p>\n Encounters on the river are so frequent that Molina now takes them for granted every time he goes fishing \u2014 especially at dusk. A few years ago, his boat ended up right on top of two hippos which, startled, capsized the vessel. The fisherman managed to swim to another barge without injury.<\/p>\n![\"Colombia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/260429-colombian-hippos-vsb-2144-a782e2.jpg\")
\u00c1lvaro Molina, 61, who lives on the riverbank opposite the Island of Silence, recalls that the first pair of hippos arrived roughly 11 years ago.Fernando Vergara \/ AP<\/p>\n