Newborn "cocaine hippo" linked to drug lord Pablo Escobar is rescued in Colombia - CBS News
A newborn hippopotamus, part of the invasive population descended from Pablo Escobar's private zoo, was rescued in Colombia after being found malnourished. The incident highlights the ongoing ecological crisis caused by these 'cocaine hippos' in the Magdalena River basin.
Why it matters
The story underscores the long-term environmental consequences of illegal wildlife trafficking and the challenges of managing invasive species.
Authorities in northwestern Colombia said they rescued a newborn hippopotamus found alone by fishermen on the banks of a river and showing signs of malnutrition.Colombia has around 200 so-called "cocaine hippos" living in the wild, according to the Environment Ministry, all of which descended from a colony brought to South America by slain cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar.Fishermen found the small hippo separated from its mother and hidden in the bushes along the riverbank in a rural area of the Puerto Nare municipality in Antioquia, said Javier Valencia, director of the regional environmental authority, in a statement on Tuesday.Veterinarians treated it for "advanced dehydration and malnutrition," according to a statement.After being stabilized, the animal was transferred to a hippo sanctuary at Hacienda Napoles, the estate previously owned by Escobar and which is now a theme park.
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