Pablo Escobar

15 Stories

Escobar's Hippos Have Ecologists Worried
'If I Lived in Colombia,
I Would Be Worried'
longform
Jul 28, 2024 1:05 PM CDT

'If I Lived in Colombia, I Would Be Worried'

Scientist in Smithsonian story is talking about wild hippos, not drug cartels

(Newser) - In Colombia's fabled fight against Pablo Escobar's hippos , it seems safe to say the hippos are winning. For now. Writing at Smithsonian , Joshua Hammer lays out the numbers: Maybe four were left behind when authorities shot the drug lord dead in 1993 and took over his property—including...

Pablo Escobar's Hippos' Descendants Being Sterilized

Colombia fears without action, the animals could number 1K by 2035

(Newser) - Colombia on Tuesday began the sterilization of hippopotamuses, descendants of animals illegally brought to the country by late drug kingpin Pablo Escobar in the 1980s, the AP reports. Two male hippos and one female underwent surgical sterilization, environmental authorities said. It is part of a larger government effort to control...

Colombia Finally Has a Plan for Escobar's Hippos

At least half will be shipped to India and Mexico, and more will go elsewhere later

(Newser) - Colombia plans to round up about half of Pablo Escobar's famous hippos and ship them out of the country. Wildlife authorities in the nation say they have struck a deal to fly a total of about 70 hippos to sanctuaries and zoos in India and Mexico, reports the Washington ...

Escobar Had 4 Hippos. Dozens Now Threaten Colombia

Wildlife officials are now sterilizing the invasive species, whose population has exploded

(Newser) - Play a word association game using "Pablo Escobar" to start, and you'll likely hear such terms as "drug lord," "cocaine," and "murderer." "Hippos" may also come up if you're playing with anyone from Colombia, where the animals have surged in...

There's Only One Option: Kill Pablo Escobar's Hippos

Unchecked, Colombian herd will hit ecosystem's carrying capacity by 2039: experts

(Newser) - In the 6.5 years since we last visited Pablo Escobar's hippo herd , it's become illegal to kill any member of the Colombian population, which is considered something of a country emblem. It's no surprise, then, that the non-native animals are breeding out of control in a...

Pablo Escobar's Brother in Odd Dispute With Elon Musk

Roberto Escobar says Tesla engineer stole flamethrower idea from him

(Newser) - Elon Musk's super-popular limited-edition flamethrower (er, that is, "Not a Flamethrower" ) was actually Pablo Escobar's brother's idea, says Pablo Escobar's brother. Roberto Escobar released his own "tactical toy flamethrower" last week (you can buy one for $249 here ), and a press release...

Good News for Man Claiming Pablo Escobar Framed Him

Krishna Maharaj granted new hearing in Miami

(Newser) - Krishna Maharaj has maintained his innocence over the 30 years he's spent in a Florida prison. Now he'll get the chance to prove it. Based on fresh evidence, an appeals court has granted a new hearing for the British businessman convicted of the 1986 killings of Derrick and...

Wiz Khalifa Stunt at Pablo Escobar's Tomb Irks Colombia

Rapper appears to be smoking pot at the tomb

(Newser) - American rapper Wiz Khalifa is stirring controversy in the South American nation of Colombia, where he laid flowers and smoked what looks like a joint at the tomb of cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar, the AP reports. The rapper is an avid marijuana smoker and used his Instagram account to post...

Pablo Escobar's Brother to Netflix: Stop Narcos Until I Review

Roberto Escobar says the first season was full of inaccuracies

(Newser) - Netflix's Narcos series is about the life of Pablo Escobar—but the Colombian drug kingpin's brother doesn't want the second season to air until he's reviewed it. Roberto Escobar says he registered in California last year for "successor-in-interest rights" to his late brother's name...

Hit Man Who Killed Hundreds Has New Career on YouTube

'Remorseful Popeye' killed hundreds in Colombia

(Newser) - A Colombian hit man who has admitted murdering around 300 people and playing a role in the killings of thousands more is now making what he calls "clean money from honest work"—as a YouTube star. Jhon Jairo Velasquez, former chief enforcer for Pablo Escobar's Medellin cartel,...

Mystery Package Found at Drug Lord's Old Mansion
 Mystery Package Found 
 at Drug Lord's Old Mansion 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Jan 24, 2016 2:40 PM CST

Mystery Package Found at Drug Lord's Old Mansion

Safe also stolen from Pablo Escobar's former property

(Newser) - A mysterious package has emerged from a pink Miami Beach mansion once owned by Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. The current owner, Chicken Kitchen founder Christian de Berdouare, bought the waterfront estate for $9.65 million in 2014 with the plan to tear down the old mansion, unaware of Escobar'...

Hit Man Who Killed 300 Freed
 Hit Man Who Killed 300 Freed 
Aug 27, 2014 1:13 AM CDT

Hit Man Who Killed 300 Freed

Jhon Jairo Velasquez was Escobar's chief assassin

(Newser) - The Colombian hit man known as "Popeye" has been freed from prison after 22 years—which works out to around 27 days for each of the 300 people he has admitted killing. John Jairo Velasquez was the chief assassin for drug lord Pablo Escobar and is believed to have...

Millionaire Murder Convict: Pablo Escobar Framed Me

Kris Maharaj will have chance to demonstrate his innocence

(Newser) - After 27 years in prison, Krishna "Kris" Maharaj may finally get a chance to prove what he's been claiming for years: that he was framed for a pair of murders actually ordered by infamous Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. CNN has a profile on Maharaj's case detailing...

Drug Lord's Hippos Breeding Out of Control

 Drug Lord's Hippos 
 Breeding Out of Control 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Jun 29, 2014 11:01 AM CDT

Drug Lord's Hippos Breeding Out of Control

Pablo Escobar's foreign beasts terrifying fisherman, eating crops

(Newser) - Colombia is facing an overpopulation issue: a famed drug lord's herd of hippos keeps expanding. Pablo Escobar built himself a zoo in the 1980s, smuggling in a host of exotic animals, including one male and three female hippos. Now, 20 years after the drug boss's death, the hippos...

Pablo Escobar's Life: Now a $40 Tourist Draw

Medellin travel agency offers controversial tours on late drug lord

(Newser) - Pablo Escobar has made the transition in death from feared drug lord to Disney-esque tourist attraction. Visitors to Medellin, Colombia, can now shell out $40 for a three-hour tour of Escobar's favorite haunts when he ruled the city in the 1980s, reports the Guardian . The tour includes a stop...

15 Stories