In Colombia’s Antioquia region, an unusual and potentially dangerous legacy of a bygone era has taken root. Descendants of hippos imported by notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar during the 1980s now roam the Colombian countryside. These once-private zoo inhabitants have multiplied and become a significant challenge for the country’s authorities. The Colombian government, under the […]
Tag: hippo
Frightening POV video shows furious hippo charging wildlife photographers
A pair of American wildlife photographers had a terrifying encounter while filming hippos in Botswana recently. Bill and Linda Klipp were on a month-long photographic safari in the Okavango Delta when the incident happened. “We stopped at a small natural water hole to photograph a lone Hippo doing what Hippos do, lounging in the water, […]
Watch: Angry hippo charges, takes bites out of safari vehicle
Wildlife photographers on a safari in Botswana’s Okavango Delta got more than they bargained for when a perturbed hippo suddenly reacted violently to their presence. Bill and Linda Klipp were photographing and filming a lone hippo “doing what hippos do” at a watering hole when things turned dicey. “It’s not unusual for elephants and hippos […]
Locals have legs ripped off in crocodile and hippo attacks at lake that’s only source of water
Locals desperate for freshwater have been forced to use a deadly lake that is infested with hippos and crocodiles where some have lost their legs in attacks. Residents, who live near Lake Baringo in Kenya, have no choice but to face their fears due to the lake being their lifeline. According to Environmentalists, the lake […]
Colombia’s Escalating ‘Cocaine Hippo’ Dilemma
Colombia is grappling with an unusual ecological problem: a fast-growing population of hippos, descendants of a small group brought in by notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar. This exotic invasion, escalating much faster than anticipated, is threatening native wildlife and sparking concerns among environmentalists and locals alike. The illicit hippo import took place decades ago, when […]
Hippos Are in Trouble. Will an Endangered Listing Save Them?
Thanks to years of campaigning by wildlife conservation groups, it’s widely known that Africa’s elephants and rhinos are threatened by the trade in their valuable tusks and horns. Laws and regulations have been tightened, and in many countries it’s now difficult, if not impossible, to legally sell elephant and rhino products. Less well known is […]
Pablo Escobar’s ‘Cocaine Hippos’ Threatening Colombia’s Biodiversity
A group of hippos introduced to Colombia by drug cartel leader Pablo Escobar in the 1990s is causing concern among researchers and conservationists. After Escobar’s death, the hippos were left to establish themselves in Colombia’s Magdalena River and nearby lakes, and their population has multiplied to around 150 individuals. Scientists now worry that the environment […]
Urgent Measures Needed to Prevent the Extinction of Hippos, a Vital Species in African Ecosystems
Hippos are one of the most iconic and beloved animals in the world. But they are also facing a dire situation that could push them towards extinction. Despite a population decline in recent years, the United States continues to import hippo parts at an alarming rate. Between 2009 and 2018, the US imported over 9,000 […]