Pablo Escobar’s Cocaine Hippos are Facing Slaughter

Pablo Escobar’s Cocaine Hippos are Facing Slaughter

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 […]

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Colombia’s Escalating ‘Cocaine Hippo’ Dilemma

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 […]

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Pablo Escobar’s ‘Cocaine Hippos’ Threatening Colombia’s Biodiversity

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 […]

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