hippos

Pair of Pablo Escobar's Hippos Invading Colombian Town Due to Drought

A pair of hungry hippopotamuses have invaded a nearby Columbian town in search of food, and experts say a major drought is to blame.

The hippos were once owned by notorious drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. They were kept in Escobar's personal zoo at the Hacienda Napoles ranch, but several have escaped in recent years due to overpopulation, the Independent reported. Since his death in 1993, many of the exotic creatures, like giraffes, antelope and ostriches, have been moved from the ranch, but the hippos were allowed to stay, even after the compound became a theme park in 2008, the report added.

The BBC learned that the hippos have been at home in Colombia's tropical climate, where vegetation is normally lush and waterways are ideal for the creatures. In recent years, however, a severe drought has killed plants and thousands of animals, according to EcoWatch.

http://www.weather.com/climate-weather/drought/news/colombia-drought-hippos-pablo-escobar