Footprints of two hippos that had escaped slain drug lord Pablo Escobar’s private zoo two years ago have been located in the east of Antioquia, locals say.
Inhabitants of Puerto Berrío, a village close to the Magdalena Rive, say they recently have found footprints of the animals, indicating that the two huge animals are or have been close to their village.
The hippos, part of Escobar’s Haciendo Napoles flock of wild animals, escaped the dead drug lord’s zoo at the end of 2006 and have been lost since. Before their escape sixteen hippos lived on or near Escobar’s former playground.
The peasants, accompanied by wildlife expert Wilson Moreno, have been hunting the massive mammals since October when traces of them were first spotted. Fresh footprints indicate they are still in the area.
According to the locals the male and female hippo now have a ten-month old baby that’s accompanying them.
If the animals are caught, they will be taken to a zoo.
