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LadyEllen -> RE: the hippo hunt? (1/4/2009 5:54:23 AM)
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The Medellin drug cartel boss (Pablo Escobar?) had a huge estate, included in which was a private zoo with all sorts of animals. At his death about 13 years ago at the hands of a combined Colombian/US force, the estate was left to ruin and most of the animals were transported back to Africa.
However, because of the danger involved and the cost, no one wanted to ship the hippos back and they were expected to die out. Except that they escaped into the local river system and flourished, breeding from a handful to a herd in quick order. Theyve been living in the local river system ever since and havent caused much problem until lately, when as numbers increase, the young bulls started spreading out into the area in search of territories. This has brought them in contact with human settlements. Hippos are extremely dangerous - the most dangerous animal in Africa, they kill more people than any other, being large, very fast, and rather ferocious.
So the government decided it was time to round them up and ship them home, whatever the difficulties and costs. This was reported in late November/ early December of last year, when they were waiting for the river levels to go down so they could start the hunt. But there doesnt seem to be any news since then - and I wondered whether anyone had heard anything on it?
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