Escobar's escaped hippo gunned down

***Sim*** · **Escobar's escaped hippo gunned down** 11-07-2009

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

Quote:

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.

***Sim*** · 11-07-2009

Cocaine king Pablo Escobar's hippo gunned down | News.com.au Top stories | News.com.au

Quote:

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.

More photos here: http://colombiareports.com/colombia-...rmer-boss.html

Kifaru Bwana · 11-07-2009

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)

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).

zooman · 12-07-2009

"Man" really is the most horrible animal!!!

zooman · 12-07-2009

Funny to see that Sim has issues with Double posting as well

***Sim*** · 12-07-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by zooman

Funny to see that Sim has issues with Double posting as well

Actually I deliberately posted the second post, but it was supposed to be different to the first one - seems I accidentally posted the wrong article.

dragon(ele)nerd · 12-07-2009

oh dear, I just read all about Pablo escobar last night. I had no idea he had a hippo!

***Sim*** · **Hippo Hunt on Hold** 20-07-2009

Hippo Hunt on Hold | Colombia News

Quote:

Orders that two hippos who escaped from Pablo Escobar's Napoles Ranch years ago be killed, have been placed on hold because the Cali and Pereira Zoos have expressed interest in taking the animals if they are captured alive.

dragon(ele)nerd · 20-07-2009

I like that much better

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