Colombia calls off hunt for drug lord's hippo

News Type: Event — Seeded on Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:50 AM EDT

Article Source: Reuters

world-news, colombia, wildlife, escape, zoos, co-news, pablo-escobar, hippopotamus

Colombia has called off the hunt to kill a drug lord's escaped hippo and will instead try to relocate the beast after its mate was shot dead by order of the government, sparking outrage from animal rights groups.

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The giant animals were imported from Africa by late cocaine king Pablo Escobar and put in his zoo. They escaped in 2006 to live in the wild near the Magdalena river in northern Colombia, causing concerns about local public safety.

Colombia was shocked on Friday when photographs were published of the dead hippo, named "Pepe", and by news that the hunt was still on for his mate, "Matilda," who gave birth to a calf in the wild.

Bogota-based beer company Bavaria, owned by SABMiller (SAB.L), offered to bring in animal protection experts from South Africa and Tanzania to find the best way to care for the surviving hippo and her calf.

"We have accepted Bavaria's offer. The hunt is off," a spokeswoman for Colombia's Environment Ministry told Reuters on Wednesday. "The idea is to relocate the animals."

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#1 - Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:50 AM EDT

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Colombia calls off hunt for drug lord's hippo

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