Comments for Oh Noes Colombian Narco Hippos

Oh Noes Colombian Narco Hippos

2009-07-11T14:31:10Z

What happens when you cross an International Colombian Drug Cartel Boss with Wild Hippos?

(Well not exactly). Armies worldwide are sometimes tasked with very strange missions. UnkaBill had to tussle more than once with Dyspeptic Water Buffaloes. And the Colombian Army, recently had to tussle with some mean Narco-Hippos. No really. It seems that the old bugaboo of Colombian Narco Capos, Pablo Escobar, once had a menagerie of wild beasts in his Narco-Hacienda. In his collection, he had a couple of Hippopotami. But once he was dispatched by The Colombian National Police in a wild shootout, the caretaker of his menagerie, let the beast go loose.

Flash forward twenty years, and it seems that the Colombian Jungles now have somewhat of an African Hippo problem. According to the Colombian daily, El Tiempo, a unit of the Colombian army was tasked with tracking and bagging the beasties. Must be quite a change from the usual tussles that they have to contend with the FARC and the ELN.

But I am glad to report, that Pepe-The-Narco-Hippo has now found better pastures to roam to.

Boq

Comment from BillT on 2009-07-13

2009-07-13T09:19:33Z

Supposedly, you can make a pretty decent soup using hippo hide. A lot of fat and flavorful oils in it.

Supposedly..

Comment from steveH on 2009-07-13

2009-07-13T05:34:45Z

McCart, one of my sons in law grew up in east Africa. Sometimes it was apparently a bit more exciting than one might like, such as twice being treed by Cape Buffalo.

In any case, he reports that hippo is OK, but not great, while the best beast he's ever tasted was giraffe.

One data point for you, anyway.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-07-12

2009-07-12T20:26:22Z

Never, ever, *ever* approach the Castle with a hunting rifle.

Not if you're hunting big, mean, and ugly.

Because this hippo shoots back. And sometimes, first.

Comment from Grimmy on 2009-07-12

2009-07-12T19:06:58Z

Heh.

I thought this was going to be about some sort of mutant hippopotamule being used to transport drugs.

That should be a welcome break for the soldiers who are usually tasked with going out and hunting human critters.

Comment from BillT on 2009-07-12

2009-07-12T11:16:06Z

anything that big, mean, and ugly, has got to be delicious.

Never, ever, *ever* approach the Castle with a hunting rifle.

Just sayin'...

Comment from MCart on 2009-07-12

2009-07-12T05:39:00Z

Man, I'll be going down to Colombia for an unrelated issue at some point in the next year or two, maybe I should check out any hunting gigs when I get there.

I've never had hippo meat, but anything that big, mean, and ugly, has got to be delicious.

Comment from Boquisucio on 2009-07-11

2009-07-12T03:55:04Z

As the saying goes: Birds of a feather (nevermind).

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-07-11

2009-07-11T23:16:00Z

8^ D

Comment from BillT on 2009-07-11

2009-07-11T18:58:42Z

*desperately refraining from commenting on the inevitability of JoA being simpatico with hippos*

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-07-11

2009-07-11T16:31:11Z

Well, Argent - you really only have to get all the gurls. Then the problem takes care of itself over time.

Leave one gurl, however.

Nonetheless, it's still kinda sad for the hippos, who are blameless. But I'm a sentimental sap.

Comment from Argent on 2009-07-11

2009-07-11T15:47:05Z

I *was* going to say is there really any difference in appearance, but yer.

Weird solution for a weird problem with a weird cause. I hear hippos are actually pretty nasty for a wild animal, not that a few bangsticks can't deal with it. The problem with these culling activities as we've learnt over here is unless you get every last one of them you really aren't dealing with the problem.