Ridiculous History CLASSIC: How Louisiana Almost Became a Hippo Ranching Hub
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Jan 6, 2026 Travel back to the early 1900s when a Louisiana congressman proposed importing hippos to solve a meat shortage. Discover surprising details about hippo biology and their suitability for swamps. Meet Frederick Russell Burnham, who championed these massive mammals to humane societies. The plan garnered attention and even support from figures like Theodore Roosevelt. Explore the quirky timeline of why hippo ranching fizzled, and ponder how American cuisine might have changed forever if it had succeeded.
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Meat Shortage Sparked Unconventional Ideas
- In 1910 the U.S. faced a severe meat shortage driven by urban population growth and overgrazed pastures.
- Advocates sought unconventional livestock solutions to expand regional meat supplies quickly.
Burnham Recruits Humane Society Support
- Frederick Russell Burnham, a celebrated outdoorsman, spoke to the Humane Association to recruit support for hippo ranching.
- Burnham privately mocked such civic groups but still courted their backing for the plan.
Congressman Broussard's Hippo Proposal
- Congressman Robert Broussard proposed importing African hippos to Louisiana swamps to eat invasive water hyacinth and provide meat.
- Proponents pitched hippos as 'lake cows' and even touted hippo bacon in newspapers.
