The Cocaine Hippos of Puerto Triunfo

Pablo Escobar’s Bizarre Legacy of Havoc Wreaked on Colombia

Pablo Escobar, to the disdain of many a Colombian, is one of the most internationally well-known historical figures of the country. The infamous drug lord, who became the wealthiest criminal in history, plagued Colombia for nearly 20 years.

Escobar’s influence on the country was massive, and, even after his death, his influence persists. Some residual effects of his legacy are significantly larger than others, however.

Perhaps the strangest of all his impacts were his famed Cocaine Hippos. To add on to the already extensive list of chaos he brought to Colombia, Escobar also changed the ecosystem.

¿Quihubo Parce?

In the late 1970’s, as Escobar’s wealth grew from his Cartel-related exploits, he applied much of his newfound currency to bizarre and eccentric projects — one of the most notable being Hacienda Nápoles. This estate, which featured a race track, dinosaur statues, and a luxury car collection, also became home to a wide variety of exotic animals. The “zoo” portion of this estate was so vast that, when taken over by the Municipality of Puerto Triunfo after Escobar’s death, the cost of maintenance was not feasible, and was quickly disbanded.