×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Monday
12
Jan 2026
weather symbol
Athens 6°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> World

The “cocaine hippos” have become a huge headache for Colombia

Back in 1981, Escobar illegally imported one male and three female hippopotamuses...

Newsroom June 7 06:30

Infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar may be long gone, however he’s still wreaking havoc on his native Colombia thanks to his thriving hippos.

Back in 1981, Escobar illegally imported one male and three female hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius) from a zoo in the US, and moved them onto his private ranch at Hacienda Nápoles.

After his death in 1993, the African animals were left largely to their own devices, breeding and dispersing into the surrounding areas, establishing a healthy population along the Magdalena River.

See Also:

>Related articles

Hits on Russian Lukoil oil platforms from Ukraine

Cartel de los Soles at the Presidential Palace of Caracas: The drug-trafficking network that Chávez set up with Sinaloa and that kept Maduro in power

Trump “weighs” a strike on Iran: Military not ready, fears of retaliation – “Foreign terrorists” kill civilians & burn mosques, Pezeshkian says

Mike Pence announces White House bid

Now, a Colombian environment ministry census, conducted with local and US scientists, has revealed there are twice as many of the hefty herbivores as originally expected, with as many as 215 likely.

Read more: New Atlas

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#cocaine#colombia#hippo#hippopotamus#Pablo Escobar#world
> More World

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

Hits on Russian Lukoil oil platforms from Ukraine

January 11, 2026

In the shadow of the bribery video, Christodoulides’ wife resigns from the Independent Social Support Agency, denounces “relentless” attacks

January 11, 2026

Cartel de los Soles at the Presidential Palace of Caracas: The drug-trafficking network that Chávez set up with Sinaloa and that kept Maduro in power

January 11, 2026

Trump “weighs” a strike on Iran: Military not ready, fears of retaliation – “Foreign terrorists” kill civilians & burn mosques, Pezeshkian says

January 11, 2026

Urgent Weather Alert from the Hellenic National Meteorological Service: Severe cold wave from this afternoon – Areas where snowfall is expected

January 11, 2026

Mitsotakis’ first review for 2026: The international community cannot ignore authoritarian regimes

January 11, 2026

Bob Weir, co-founder of the Grateful Dead, dies at 78

January 11, 2026

Sports broadcasts of the day: Aris – AEK and the Real Madrid – Barcelona final stand out

January 11, 2026
All News

> World

Hits on Russian Lukoil oil platforms from Ukraine

V. Filanovsky, Yuri Korchagin and Valery Grayfer platforms are located in the Caspian Sea

January 11, 2026

Cartel de los Soles at the Presidential Palace of Caracas: The drug-trafficking network that Chávez set up with Sinaloa and that kept Maduro in power

January 11, 2026

Trump “weighs” a strike on Iran: Military not ready, fears of retaliation – “Foreign terrorists” kill civilians & burn mosques, Pezeshkian says

January 11, 2026

Who is Maryam Rajavi, presented as a “ready-made solution” for the day after Iran, her movement, and its financial backing

January 11, 2026

The US ready to help Iranians, says Trump – Officials discussed scenarios for an airstrike

January 10, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα