Pablo's Hippos Thrive in Colombia
By James Dziezynski
15 years after his death, Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar continues to be a polarizing figure. From the height of his powers in the mid 1980’s to his eventual downfall and death at the hands of government officials in 1992, Escobar was a man of excess. His role as the feared leader of the Medellín drug cartel was highlighted by ruthless murders and terrorism. Contrast that to his image of a modern-day Robin Hood in his home town, where his charity to the poor, sports programs and the church building efforts were every bit as extreme as the violence that put him in control of an 80-billion dollar drug trade.
Escobar’s personal estate was a reflection of his enormous wealth and at the heart of his palatial grounds was a highly maintained zoo, populated by exotic animals from all over the world. Elephants, zebras and many other non-native creatures were all part of the menagerie. Amongst the transplants featured at the Escobar zoo were a small group of pygmy hippos. Unlike many of their wild counterparts, the hippos were well-adapted to thrive in Colombia’s lush eco-system. The marshy, salty rivers and dense foliage were almost as welcoming as the muddy African waterways that make up their natural habitat.
Escobar’s kingdom came crashing down in 1992, when a combined task force of American and Colombian (and allegedly rival drug cartels) shot the drug lord in a Medellín residence. As his empire crumbled, the vaunted estate began to fall into ruin. Local animal rescue groups took most of the exotic creatures to nearby zoos, though many of the facilities were ill-prepared to handle the native needs of the animals. All of the creatures were evacuated except for a single pair of pygmy hippos that eluded capture, preferring to hide out in the murky ponds and rivers at the Escobar compound.
As time passed, Escobar’s estate became a symbol of the violent past, quickly overgrown by the jungle flora. The hippos however, continued to flourish and expand their numbers—as many as 30-40 members now make up the population. Not only have the hippos thrived but they have also developed their territories beyond the borders of their originally designated land. All the elements they need to prosper are found in Colombia’s landscape. While theirs seems like a heartwarming story of survival, many of the local people are not so welcoming of their new wild neighbors.
An animal as large as a hippo—even a relatively “small” 600 lb. pygmy hippo—can have a serious impact on native species. While their numbers are still low enough to remain in balance with their environment, as time goes on, natives and biologists are concerned about the long term impact of an introduced species. Even though they are well-suited to live in Colombia, hippos can be aggressive and pose a threat to humans and other animals. One faction of voices feels it is best to capture the population while it is still small enough to contain. Others would rather just shoot the animals and be done with them—and the echoes of Escobar’s bloody past—in one shot.
The Medellín hippos are intrinsically tied into Escobar’s notorious legacy. Some view them as a ray of hope from dark times, a silver lining to one of Colombia’s bloodiest decades. Others see them as a destructive nuisance that should share the fate of their deceased master. Their future hinges largely on the government policy that dictates what will become of Escobar’s estate. Plans range from reinstating the land into a theme park, complete with a restored zoo, to razing the property for low-income housing.
As the lawmakers debate the best use of the land, the hippos continue to flourish. Left unchecked, the hippos stand a good chance of blending into the Colombian jungles and anchoring a new population far from the dusty African plains. Having outlived their master’s powerful empire, their fate is still uncertain, but many hope that their nearly seamless integration into the equatorial region allows them to live their hippo lives in peaceful harmony with their new home.
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