The exponential increase of Asian deer, illegally introduced four decades ago, jeopardizes the balance of local ecosystems, causing a new biological crisis and challenging environmental authorities in Colombia.
The legacy of the eccentricities of the late drug lord Pablo Escobar continues to generate environmental complications in Colombia.
Beyond the well-known issue of the hippos, a new alert has been raised in the Magdalena Medio: the uncontrolled proliferation of Pablo Escobar’s chital deer.
These specimens, native to Asia and known for their strong resemblance to the character “Bambi“, have managed to silently expand beyond the limits of the former Hacienda Nápoles, establishing themselves as an invasive species with a potentially devastating impact on regional biodiversity.
In recent years, sightings of these deer have become commonplace for the inhabitants of Doradal, Antioquia.
Biological crisis caused by chital deer
Testimonies from local rural workers, such as cowboy Willington Herrera, report herds exceeding 30 individuals, evidencing an alarming capacity for reproduction and adaptation.
Unlike the hippos, whose presence is physically imposing, these deer have gone unnoticed for decades due to their cautious behavior, allowing them to colonize jungles and pastures without rigorous scientific monitoring to date.
The biological crisis lies in the alteration of vegetal regeneration and direct competition with native herbivores.
According to David Echeverry, head of biodiversity management at Cornare, Pablo Escobar’s chital deer possess superior adaptive skills that allow them to jump obstacles up to three meters and move with agility.
Although local residents often perceive them as harmless and “ornamental” animals, experts warn that their expansion disrupts the water balance and displaces endemic species that fulfill vital functions in the ecosystem of the Magdalena.
Managing this biological crisis presents an unprecedented logistical and ethical challenge. Controlling the chitals is extremely complex due to their biological sensitivity: the stress of captivity or physical manipulation can cause them capture myopathy, a deadly condition that leads to the animal’s sudden death.
In the absence of comprehensive studies in the Colombian context and a defined management strategy, environmental authorities are evaluating alternatives such as remote chemical sterilization, seeking to protect the country’s biodiversity without ignoring animal welfare or the social perception of the community.
