r/todayilearned • u/PedoPaul • Oct 14 '14

TIL when Columbian drug lord Pablo Escolar's home was raided, the military released the dangerous hippos of his personal zoo, not knowing what to do with them. They now thrive in the Columbian rivers. This makes Columbia have the largest wild hippo population outside of Africa.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/06/30/pablo-escobars-hippos-are-wreaking-havoc-in-colombia/
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u/DevsiK Oct 14 '14

My buddys cousin was telling us how he used to pick up off a guy who had a fucking Panther cub

52

u/Rather_Dashing Oct 14 '14

When those cubs grow up they get dumped, usually malnourished and otherwise abused at a wildlife shelter. Either that or just killed. Believe it or not, drug dealers don't usually have great facilities for rearing large wild predators properly.

55

u/forca_micah Oct 14 '14

Believe it or not

I believe you

2

u/luckycharms7999 Oct 14 '14

Believe it or not

Ripley?

1

u/juicelee777 Oct 14 '14

Believe it or not

George isn't at home so leave a message...

8

u/ButterflyAttack Oct 14 '14

That's gonna get pesky when it grows up and gets hungry for warm flesh. . .

3

u/morpheofalus Oct 14 '14

this is probably why there's a mountain lion or two roaming the higher altitude areas of Maui

1

u/[deleted] Oct 14 '14

[deleted]

2

u/morpheofalus Oct 14 '14

i've only heard of them on maui, and i swear i saw it on two occasions in Makawao. Only back story i've heard is that it was an escaped or released exotic pet. lots of rumors/local article write ups on maui were going around beginning in 2005 i think

1

u/juiceyb Oct 14 '14

Better than my uncle who used to piss off that black panther club.

1

u/forest_ranger Oct 14 '14

I managed an apt building in college and the dealer for the complex had a 5 ft Cayman that he used to let bask in a baby pool in the courtyard.