Pablo Escobar’s Hippos | National Geographic

the hippopotamus an iconic symbol of the

the hippopotamus an iconic symbol of the continent of Africa

continent of Africa

continent of Africa the semi aquatic creatures roam wild

the semi aquatic creatures roam wild

the semi aquatic creatures roam wild here and nowhere else in the world at

here and nowhere else in the world at

here and nowhere else in the world at least they didn’t until now this small

least they didn’t until now this small

least they didn’t until now this small herd of wild hippos lives thousands of

herd of wild hippos lives thousands of

herd of wild hippos lives thousands of miles from Africa in the South American

miles from Africa in the South American

miles from Africa in the South American country of Colombia how they got here is

country of Colombia how they got here is

country of Colombia how they got here is a crime story where they’re going is a

a crime story where they’re going is a

a crime story where they’re going is a mystery it began decades ago here in

mystery it began decades ago here in

mystery it began decades ago here in what’s called the hacienda nápoles now

what’s called the hacienda nápoles now

what’s called the hacienda nápoles now it’s a ruin but this was once the

it’s a ruin but this was once the

it’s a ruin but this was once the fortress and personal playground of one

fortress and personal playground of one

fortress and personal playground of one of the world’s most famous criminals

of the world’s most famous criminals

of the world’s most famous criminals Pablo Escobar

Pablo Escobar

Pablo Escobar ruler to the medellin drug cartel

ruler to the medellin drug cartel

ruler to the medellin drug cartel escobar used his ill-gotten wealth to

escobar used his ill-gotten wealth to

escobar used his ill-gotten wealth to stock this 7,000 acre estate with a

stock this 7,000 acre estate with a

stock this 7,000 acre estate with a private airstrip

dozens of buildings and a faux jurassic

dozens of buildings and a faux jurassic park complete with life-sized dinosaurs

park complete with life-sized dinosaurs

park complete with life-sized dinosaurs he also had his own personal Zoo stocked

he also had his own personal Zoo stocked

he also had his own personal Zoo stocked with exotic species such as zebras

with exotic species such as zebras

with exotic species such as zebras giraffes and four hippopotamus Mombasa

giraffes and four hippopotamus Mombasa

giraffes and four hippopotamus Mombasa to the pedlar inter lopez who goes by

to the pedlar inter lopez who goes by

to the pedlar inter lopez who goes by the name chocolate is now a ranger for

the name chocolate is now a ranger for

the name chocolate is now a ranger for the environmental agency in charge of

the environmental agency in charge of

the environmental agency in charge of much of hacienda nápoles he knows what

much of hacienda nápoles he knows what

much of hacienda nápoles he knows what it was like before

it was like before

it was like before Escobar’s downfall see alterior meant a

Escobar’s downfall see alterior meant a

Escobar’s downfall see alterior meant a hippopotamus lost in ian paisa Connie’s

hippopotamus lost in ian paisa Connie’s

hippopotamus lost in ian paisa Connie’s originally the hippos were kept in this

originally the hippos were kept in this

originally the hippos were kept in this Lagoon right here and on another big one

Lagoon right here and on another big one

Lagoon right here and on another big one over there they would feed them in this

over there they would feed them in this

over there they would feed them in this area and they would give them carrots

area and they would give them carrots

area and they would give them carrots and salt to eat grass there was a lot

and salt to eat grass there was a lot

and salt to eat grass there was a lot there since this place was left alone

there since this place was left alone

there since this place was left alone and no one was taking care of it the

and no one was taking care of it the

and no one was taking care of it the electric fence stopped working so they

electric fence stopped working so they

electric fence stopped working so they started to break through the wire fences

started to break through the wire fences

started to break through the wire fences because the barbed wire doesn’t stop

because the barbed wire doesn’t stop

because the barbed wire doesn’t stop them so they started to take over the

them so they started to take over the

them so they started to take over the whole ranch and run freely everywhere

whole ranch and run freely everywhere

whole ranch and run freely everywhere and started to hang out in the largest

and started to hang out in the largest

and started to hang out in the largest lake most of Escobar’s wild animals were

lake most of Escobar’s wild animals were

lake most of Escobar’s wild animals were captured and taken to zoos

at least two of the hippos were left

at least two of the hippos were left behind they rank among the second

behind they rank among the second

behind they rank among the second largest mammals in the world and can

largest mammals in the world and can

largest mammals in the world and can produce calves every two years

Pablo’s hippos adapted to this lush

Pablo’s hippos adapted to this lush landscape devoid of natural predators

landscape devoid of natural predators

landscape devoid of natural predators and they went forth and multiply the

and they went forth and multiply the

and they went forth and multiply the herd now numbers about 16 perhaps more

some have proposed turning hacienda

some have proposed turning hacienda nápoles into a theme park the

nápoles into a theme park the

nápoles into a theme park the government plans to use part of the site

government plans to use part of the site

government plans to use part of the site to build a prison – Tom – until de la

to build a prison – Tom – until de la

to build a prison – Tom – until de la casa Chris Kira de paola squat we’re in

casa Chris Kira de paola squat we’re in

casa Chris Kira de paola squat we’re in the area of Pablo Escobar’s old house as

the area of Pablo Escobar’s old house as

the area of Pablo Escobar’s old house as you’re seen what’s left here ruins here

you’re seen what’s left here ruins here

you’re seen what’s left here ruins here we can see how the people have ruined

we can see how the people have ruined

we can see how the people have ruined the floors because they’ve come looking

the floors because they’ve come looking

the floors because they’ve come looking for treasure and all of that stuff once

for treasure and all of that stuff once

for treasure and all of that stuff once they brought a backhoe into this area of

they brought a backhoe into this area of

they brought a backhoe into this area of the pool in the bar they knocked that

the pool in the bar they knocked that

the pool in the bar they knocked that over with a backhoe

so when you come in and look at the

so when you come in and look at the state it’s in well I get nostalgic

state it’s in well I get nostalgic

state it’s in well I get nostalgic because the government could have

because the government could have

because the government could have maintained this or this could have been

maintained this or this could have been

maintained this or this could have been self sustained by charging entrance fees

it could have been kept as he had it

it could have been kept as he had it it’s sad to see it like this

Escobar was a troubling figure in

Escobar was a troubling figure in Colombian history and dealing with his

Colombian history and dealing with his

Colombian history and dealing with his legacy is apt to be a touchy subject

legacy is apt to be a touchy subject

legacy is apt to be a touchy subject which leaves the hip votes

which leaves the hip votes

which leaves the hip votes some of which have reportedly wandered

some of which have reportedly wandered

some of which have reportedly wandered off from the main herd to establish new

off from the main herd to establish new

off from the main herd to establish new stomping grounds hippos can be dangerous

stomping grounds hippos can be dangerous

stomping grounds hippos can be dangerous and some are worried well I would put

and some are worried well I would put

and some are worried well I would put the other one as you say we’re looking

the other one as you say we’re looking

the other one as you say we’re looking above it pork you are not the one in Rio

above it pork you are not the one in Rio

above it pork you are not the one in Rio there could be human losses and I’m sure

there could be human losses and I’m sure

there could be human losses and I’m sure there will be because they will take

there will be because they will take

there will be because they will take over the river as their territory people

over the river as their territory people

over the river as their territory people take sand out of the river they

take sand out of the river they

take sand out of the river they transport products like plantains and

transport products like plantains and

transport products like plantains and yuca everything that they ship by boats

yuca everything that they ship by boats

yuca everything that they ship by boats and if these animals are in the river

and if these animals are in the river

and if these animals are in the river well forget it because people won’t be

well forget it because people won’t be

well forget it because people won’t be able to pass through or they will be

able to pass through or they will be

able to pass through or they will be prone to have an accident caused by

prone to have an accident caused by

prone to have an accident caused by these animals Colombia has offered the

these animals Colombia has offered the

these animals Colombia has offered the hippos free for the taking and some

hippos free for the taking and some

hippos free for the taking and some environmental groups have expressed

environmental groups have expressed

environmental groups have expressed tentative interest

but like Pablo Escobar these big guys

but like Pablo Escobar these big guys probably won’t go quietly and if they

probably won’t go quietly and if they

probably won’t go quietly and if they can’t be caught the government hints

can’t be caught the government hints

can’t be caught the government hints they may have to be shocked just like

they may have to be shocked just like

they may have to be shocked just like their former owner gunned down on the

their former owner gunned down on the

their former owner gunned down on the run for some that would be a tragedy

run for some that would be a tragedy

run for some that would be a tragedy they see the hippos as a positive legacy

they see the hippos as a positive legacy

they see the hippos as a positive legacy of a despised man

Columbia has come a long way from its

Columbia has come a long way from its darkest days but years after his death

darkest days but years after his death

darkest days but years after his death Pablo Escobar continues to stir emotions

Pablo Escobar continues to stir emotions

Pablo Escobar continues to stir emotions and create problems for Colombians and

and create problems for Colombians and

and create problems for Colombians and hippos far from their ancestral home

hippos far from their ancestral home

hippos far from their ancestral home carry the weight of their troubled

carry the weight of their troubled

carry the weight of their troubled history sponsored by National Geographic

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