Save the 80 Hippopotamuses!

by Ana Andrade

On 13 April, the government of Colombia announced plans to euthanize approximately 80 hippopotamuses descended from animals that once belonged to Pablo Escobar. Originally imported from Africa, the hippopotamuses adapted to the Colombian environment. In the absence of natural predators, their population expanded significantly, altering aquatic ecosystems and generating risks for nearby communities. (1)

On 28 April, Indian billionaire Anant Ambani expressed interest in rescuing the animals and relocating them to Vantara, a large conservation center in India. (2)  Ambani would assume the cost of the logistical operation, estimated at around three million dollars. The transfer would involve a cargo flight lasting approximately 33 hours from Colombia to India. (3) The scale of the project is considerable: an adult hippopotamus can weigh up to three and a half tons, (4) meaning that the relocation of 80 animals would involve transporting nearly 280 tons of living mass across continents.

The operation would require compliance with strict international regulations and formal agreements between governments. The participation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has been requested, and all international permits would be indispensable for the transfer to proceed legally. (1)

Given that the story originated with Pablo Escobar (5)—the original owner of the animals—the astrological symbolism becomes particularly striking. In the transits corresponding to Colombia’s euthanasia decision on 13 April, the transiting Sun at 23 Aries formed a conjunction with Escobar’s natal Moon at 25 Aries. Symbolically, the Sun may represent governmental authority, while the Moon can be associated with homeland and the domestic legacy of Escobar.

At the same time, transiting Pluto at 5 Aquarius activated the cusp of Escobar’s Twelfth House at 3 Aquarius. Pluto, associated with death and transformation, in contact with the Twelfth House—linked here symbolically to large confined animals—appears to reflect the gravity of the situation. Meanwhile, Uranus at 29 Taurus formed a trine (120 degrees) with Escobar’s natal Jupiter at 0 Aquarius. Uranus symbolizes liberation and sudden change, while Jupiter may signify in this context the proliferation of the hippopotamus population.

In the chart of Colombia (6), transiting Mars and Neptune at 2 Aries, together with Saturn at 7 Aries, formed conjunctions with Colombia’s natal Moon at 3 Aries. Mars suggests decisive action, Neptune introduces themes of compassion, while Saturn reflects responsibility and the need for structural solutions. Uranus at 29 Taurus conjunct Colombia’s natal Jupiter at 25 Taurus, together with transiting Jupiter at 16 Cancer conjunct natal Mars at 17 Cancer, emphasizes the urgency of resolving a long-standing domestic issue involving excess, expansion, and rapid intervention.

A different symbolic tone emerges in the transits of 28 April, when Ambani (7) announced his intention to rescue the animals. Transiting Mars at 14 Aries and Mercury at 20 Aries activated Ambani’s natal Mercury at 15 Aries and Sun at 19 Aries, both forming harmonious trines to his natal Mars at 14 Leo and retrograde Jupiter at 15 Sagittarius. These configurations suggest initiative, movement, transportation, and the activation of large-scale international efforts.

Additionally, transiting Jupiter at 18 Cancer formed trines to Ambani’s Venus at 15 Pisces and Saturn at 19 Pisces. Jupiter, symbolically associated here with benefaction, expansion, and the hippopotamuses themselves, appears to reinforce the values, resources, and determination required to transform the rescue into reality.

Further notable configurations appear through transiting Pluto at 5 Aquarius conjunct Ambani’s natal Uranus at 0 Aquarius and sextile his natal retrograde Pluto at 0 Sagittarius, while transiting Uranus at 0 Gemini trined his natal Uranus and opposed natal Pluto. This creates a wedge formation involving Uranus and Pluto, a combination often associated with radical transformation, liberation, and intervention in extreme circumstances. Uranus may represent freedom and relocation, while Pluto evokes rescue from conditions associated with danger, confinement, or destruction.

The transits to the chart of India (8) on 28 April are equally remarkable. Transiting Pluto formed an exact conjunction with India’s natal Sun, both at 5 Aquarius, while the transiting Sun at 7 Taurus conjoined India’s natal Moon at 5 Taurus. Meanwhile, transiting Neptune at 3 Aries approached India’s Ascendant at 5 Aries. Together, these configurations suggest a national atmosphere characterized by transformation, governmental involvement, receptivity, and compassion. Neptune’s prominence particularly reinforces themes of humanitarian concern, rescue, and idealistic intervention.

Interestingly, the same date also activated key points in Escobar’s natal chart. Transiting Mercury at 20 Aries approached his natal Moon at 25 Aries, symbolically connecting transportation, communication, and movement with the former residence where the animals still live. Simultaneously, transiting Pluto remained near the cusp of his Twelfth House, while Uranus at 0 Gemini formed a trine with his natal Jupiter at 0 Aquarius, once again linking themes of liberation, wealth, and long-distance travel.

Additional symbolic parallels deepen the narrative. Pablo Escobar was born only 56 days after the independence of India, resulting in notable chart similarities. Both charts share Saturn at 18 Virgo, while Escobar’s Mars at 19 Virgo aligns closely with this placement. Furthermore, India’s natal Sun at 5 Aquarius falls near the cusp of Escobar’s Twelfth House.

The synastry between Ambani and Colombia is also revealing. Ambani’s Venus at 15 Pisces and Saturn at 19 Pisces conjoin Colombia’s natal retrograde Pluto at 16 Pisces and trine Colombia’s Mars at 17 Cancer, suggesting a dynamic involving resources, commitment, transformation, and decisive intervention.

Finally, Ambani was born less than eighteen months after Escobar’s death more than three decades ago, creating striking symbolic resonances between their charts. Ambani’s Uranus and Escobar’s Jupiter both occupy 0 Aquarius, while Ambani’s Neptune and Escobar’s Venus are both positioned around 25 Capricorn. Ambani’s retrograde Jupiter at 15 Sagittarius conjuncts Escobar’s Mercury at 14 Sagittarius, linking themes of long-distance travel and coordination for logistics purposes.

At the same time, Ambani’s Venus and Saturn in Pisces oppose Escobar’s Saturn and Mars in Virgo, generating a polarity between contrasting expressions of power, control, wealth, and responsibility. This opposition forms a T-square with Jupiter and Mercury in Sagittarius, a configuration suggesting differing philosophies regarding ownership, excess, wealth, and the ultimate fate of the 80 hippopotamuses.

Notes: (1) https://noticiasambientales.com/animals/hippos-in-colombia-what-conditions-did-the-country-set-for-the-transfer-of-these-animals-to-india/

(2) https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-04-28/indian-billionaire-offers-to-take-80-of-pablo-escobars-hippos-destined-for-slaughter.html

(3)https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122174936240637894&set=a.122105041628637894 : ANC Noticias Col in Facebook

(4) https://www.britannica.com/science/How-Much-Does-a-Hippopotamus-Weigh

(5) Pablo Escobar, 1 December 1949, 11:50 am, Medellín, Colombia. RR:B

https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Escobar,_Pablo

(6) Colombia; 21 July 1810, 03:35:40 LMT, Bogotá, Colombia in  www.carta-natal.es

(7) Anant Amandi https://www.imdb.com/es/name/nm13414500/bio/

(8) India;  https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Nation:_India_(Republic)

26 January 1950, 10:18, Delhi, India. RR:A

Title Image Credit:  Fernando Vergara (AP) in El País https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-04-13/colombia-authorizes-the-use-of-euthanasia-to-stop-the-spread-of-pablo-escobars-hippos.html