Escobar's escaped hippo gunned down

Simon Hampel

Simon Hampel

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Escobar's escaped hippo gunned down - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Drug lord Pablo Escobar's hippo died the same way Escobar did - hunted down and shot by the authorities for posing a danger to the public.

The hippopotamus that escaped three years ago from a ranch once owned by Escobar was killed on orders of the government, Colombian media reported.

Cocaine king Escobar, who was gunned down by police on a Medellin rooftop in 1993, was so flush with cash that he flew in hundreds of exotic animals, including kangaroos, flamingos, elephants, rhinos and nine hippos.

Many were given away to zoos after his death and collapse of his drug empire. But two dozen hippos continued to live and mate on his former estate in northern Colombia.

A male and a female escaped in 2006, freely roamed the wetlands near the Magdalena River and even reproduced in the wild.

They were rarely seen and became something of a local legend until two journalists found them grazing 100 kilometres away from the ranch last month.

Colombia's environmental agency ordered the animals killed, saying they were carriers of disease and posed a risk to local communities.

Colombians were shocked by television images broadcast on Friday (local time) of the carcass of the male hippopotamus surrounded by hunters and soldiers.

Animal rights groups denounced the killing.

"They could have been captured and kept in a safe place until a permanent refuge was found for them," said Marcela Ramirez, of local group Animal Protection Network.

The hunt was still on for the surviving adult hippo.
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Cocaine king Pablo Escobar's hippo gunned down | News.com.au Top stories | News.com.au

DRUG lord Pablo Escobar's hippo died the same way he did – hunted down and shot by the authorities for posing a danger to the public.

The hippopotamus that escaped three years ago from a ranch once owned by Escobar was killed on orders of the government, Colombian media reported.

Cocaine king Escobar, who was gunned down by police on a Medellin rooftop in 1993, was so flush with cash that he flew in hundreds of exotic animals, including kangaroos, flamingos, elephants, rhinos and nine hippos.

Many were given away to zoos after his death and collapse of his drug empire. But two dozen hippos continued to live and mate on his former estate in northern Colombia.

A male and a female escaped in 2006, freely roamed the wetlands near the Magdalena River and even reproduced in the wild. They were rarely seen and became something of a local legend until two journalists found them grazing 100 kilometers away from the ranch last month.

Colombia's environmental agency ordered the animals killed, saying they were carriers of disease and posed a risk to local communities.

Colombians were shocked by television images broadcast of the carcass of the male hippopotamus surrounded by hunters and soldiers. Animal rights groups denounced the killing.

"They could have been captured and kept in a safe place until a permanent refuge was found for them," said Marcela Ramirez of a local group called Animal Protection Network.

The hunt was still on for the surviving adult hippo.
Click to expand...

More photos here: http://colombiareports.com/colombia...s-hippo-gunned-down-like-his-former-boss.html
 
Seems a rather crude method for capturing wildlife, using the military. It equally seems a bit foreigner unfriendly to deem a perceived disease risk sufficient to shoot to kill wildlife (I know it happens every too often .. it is almost as if the race card is drawn) :confused:

Besides, hippos come ashore at night to graze and away from the water or the main river or estuary can be more readily approached (apart from the serious danger of drowning when attempting capture inside the water ...) and darted for relocation. Shoot to kill is only a last resort, if and when the wild animal attacks and does not stop following warning shots being fired in mid air (standard bush guide procedure).

I cannot help but think that an experienced zoo or wildlife vet would be on hand to take on the job of capturing and relocating them elsewhere. The zoo community in Colombia is quite well versed and has highly trained cadres and a more than active conservation breeding group (Sim will know himself no doubt).
 
"Man" really is the most horrible animal!!!
 
Funny to see that Sim has issues with Double posting as well:p
 
oh dear, I just read all about Pablo escobar last night. I had no idea he had a hippo!
 
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