Remember the story of Pablo Escobar’s hippos running wild in Colombia a few weeks ago?
Although the late King of Cocaine’s half-wild hippos may be damaging farms and the environment in this southern region, it seems some locals are growing fond of them.
Officials have warned people living near the Hacienda Nápoles park to avoid the animals, saying their endearing appearance belies an aggressive nature. But this hasn’t stopped people from trying to look after them — and even taking them into their homes.
James Torres, a resident of Puerto Triunfo, said he recently cared for an abandoned calf for over a week, but had trouble buying milk for it, El Espectador reported.
The paper didn’t explain how Torres, a peasant, could know what type of milk to give the calf — an African species not found in Colombian jungles. He added that the calf’s mother had probably abandoned it to avoid it being killed by a herd’s dominant male.
The above photo shows a baby hippo dozing alongside a girl doing her homework. It’s not clear exactly where the home is, but El Espectador quoted residents who were clearly ignoring official warnings about the potentially dangerous animals, and had taken a liking to them, caring for and possibly breeding them.
Photo: El Espectador
