Criminal

Los Hipopótamos

Jul 19, 2024

Jorge Caraballo discusses Pablo Escobar smuggling hippos into Colombia in the 1980s, leading to a hippo population boom. The podcast covers Escobar's criminal empire, life amidst drug violence in Colombia, and the challenges of sterilizing hippos in the region.

48:21

Creator website

Episode guests

Jorge Caraballo

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Inez Bordeaux's activism stemmed from her personal experience in the criminal legal system, leading to the successful closure of St. Louis' Workhouse detention center.

Dr. Gina Paolo-Serna highlighted the challenges of managing aggressive hippos, showcasing the risks and difficulties in sterilizing and controlling these animals.

Deep dives

Inez Bordeaux's Activism Against The Workhouse

Inez Bordeaux, a self-described hell-raiser, turned activist after being trapped in the criminal legal system due to unaffordable bail. She endured poor living conditions in St. Louis' Workhouse, a pre-trial detention center. Witnessing the struggles of herself and other detainees radicalized Bordeaux, sparking a successful campaign to shut down the facility.

Intro

2min

Pablo Escobar's Hippos and Criminal Empire

15min

Life Amidst Drug Violence in Colombia

6min

Gina's Tragic Loss and Medellin's Transformation

13min

The consequences of releasing hippos in a lake and sponsor support

4min

The Challenges of Sterilizing Hippos in Colombia

10min

Behind the Scenes and Sponsor Mention

3min

In the 1980s, Pablo Escobar smuggled four hippopotamuses into Colombia for a zoo on his ranch. Today, there are over 160 hippos in the country. “It’s like hippo paradise here. They have water and food all year long. They have no predators…They can do whatever they want."

Listen to Jorge Caraballo’s Radio Ambulante episode about narco tours here.

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