Colombia Considers Transfer for Escobar’s Hippos

In Colombia, billionaire Anant Ambani offered to relocate roughly 80 hippopotamuses to a sanctuary in India. The animals descend from those introduced by Pablo Escobar, and authorities are concerned about their impact as an invasive species. Some groups advocate for non-lethal solutions to manage the growing population.

Greece recently banned chairs, umbrellas, and temporary structures on 251 protected beaches. The government aims to protect sensitive coastal areas and ecosystems threatened by mass tourism, urbanization, and climate change. A rare gravelot à collier interrupted bird was also observed on the Côte d’Opale in France, prompting calls for increased vigilance.

Researchers at the University of Connecticut developed a plastic from hemp’s cannabidiol to replace petroleum-based PET. The material is heat and water resistant without using bisphenol A.

The team is now working to scale up production. Not all news is environmental; the European Parliament authorized proxy voting for pregnant members, and the EU approved sanctions against Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Work continues to fully assess the economic impact of these diverse initiatives.