Introduced species can have strong ecological, social and economic effects on their non-native environment. Introductions of megafaunal species are rare and may contribute to rewilding efforts, but they may also have pronounced socio-ecological effects because of their scale of influence. A recent introduction of the hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius into Colombia is a novel introduction of a megaherbivore onto a new continent, and raises questions about the future dynamics of the socio-ecological system into which it has been introduced. Here we synthesize current knowledge about the Colombian hippopotamus population, review the literature on the species to predict potential ecological and socio-economic effects of this introduction, and make recommendations for future study. Hippopotamuses can have high population growth rates (7–11%) and, on the current trajectory, we predict there could be 400–800 individuals in Colombia by 2050. The hippopotamus is an ecosystem engineer that can have profound effects on terrestrial and aquatic environments and could therefore affect the native biodiversity of the Magdalena River basin. Hippopotamuses are also aggressive and may pose a threat to the many inhabitants of the region who rely upon the Magdalena River for their livelihoods, although the species could provide economic benefits through tourism. Further research is needed to quantify the current and future size and distribution of this hippopotamus population and to predict the likely ecological, social and economic effects. This knowledge must be balanced with consideration of social and cultural concerns to develop appropriate management strategies for this novel introduction.

中文翻译：

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一种新型巨型食草动物引入的潜在生态和社会经济影响：哥伦比亚的河马

引进的物种可以对其非本地环境产生强烈的生态、社会和经济影响。巨型动物物种的引入是罕见的，可能有助于野化努力，但由于其影响规模，它们也可能具有显着的社会生态影响。最近介绍了河马两栖河马《进入哥伦比亚》是一种将巨型食草动物引入新大陆的新颖介绍，并引发了对其所引入的社会生态系统的未来动态的质疑。在这里，我们综合了有关哥伦比亚河马种群的当前知识，回顾了有关该物种的文献，以预测这种引入的潜在生态和社会经济影响，并为未来的研究提出建议。河马的人口增长率可能很高（7-11%），按照目前的轨迹，我们预测到 2050 年哥伦比亚可能有 400-800 人。河马是一种生态系统工程师，可以对陆地和水生环境产生深远的影响因此可能会影响马格达莱纳河流域的原生生物多样性。河马也具有攻击性，可能对该地区许多依赖马格达莱纳河为生的居民构成威胁，尽管该物种可以通过旅游业提供经济利益。需要进一步的研究来量化这种河马种群当前和未来的规模和分布，并预测可能的生态、社会和经济影响。这些知识必须与考虑社会和文化问题相平衡，以便为这种新颖的介绍制定适当的管理策略。需要进一步的研究来量化这种河马种群当前和未来的规模和分布，并预测可能的生态、社会和经济影响。这些知识必须与考虑社会和文化问题相平衡，以便为这种新颖的介绍制定适当的管理策略。需要进一步的研究来量化这种河马种群当前和未来的规模和分布，并预测可能的生态、社会和经济影响。这些知识必须与考虑社会和文化问题相平衡，以便为这种新颖的介绍制定适当的管理策略。