A circular sign in Spanish reads Peligro: Presencia de Hipopótamos with an image of a hippo, possibly one of Escobar's hippos. The sign is covered in small insects, with the background artfully out of focus.
A hippo with its mouth wide open, displaying its large tusks and teeth. Known as one of Escobar's hippos, it sits serenely on grass near a body of water.
A team of veterinarians and assistants perform a medical procedure on one of Escobar's hippos, lying on a tarp outdoors. The animal is surrounded by medical personnel in scrubs, masks, and gloves, with equipment and tools visible around them.

The Hunt for Escobar’s Hippos

Nature & Wildlife·1 x 50 min·Completed

A thrilling wildlife doc blending Narcos, Jurassic Park, and real-life drama. The hunt to control Escobar's invasive hippos threatens Colombia's ecosystem and safety.

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Genre
Conservation
Nature & Wildlife
Duration
1 × 50 min
Definition
4K
Audio
5.1
Status
Completed
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Synopsis

A Narcos meets Jurassic Park meets Blue Chip Wildlife Documentary.
Based in the “magical realism” world of Colombia – where fact is sometimes stranger than fiction – this film tells an extraordinary story: ‘The Hunt for Escobar’s Hippos’.

Hacienda Nápoles in rural Colombia was once the haunt of billionaire psychopath Pablo Escobar, who just so happened to have a soft spot for exotic animals – particularly Hippopotami!

During the excesses of his reign of terror, extorting billions of dollars from the illicit trafficking of cocaine to the USA, he ordered his henchmen to organise four of these gigantic beasts to be captured in Africa and delivered by plane to his notorious playboy ranch. The hippos were to be shown off as a ‘novelty act’ to impress and entertain his drug cartel cronies. In so doing, Pablo Escobar unwittingly spawned a Colombian alien animal invasion;  a real life Jurassic Park-story (all complete with concrete dinosaur statues!) – with potentially terrifying consequences.

Having broken down the fences and escaped the notorious drug baron’s exotic zoo, one of the most deadly animals on Earth is now running riot on the streets and infiltrating the wilderness of Colombia. Today, rumours circulate that as many as 100 hippos occupy the country; creatures that kill more people in Africa than any other megafauna including elephants, rhinos and lions!

Compounding the problem, Colombia is proving to be a paradise for African hippos as there are no natural predators and a year-round abundance of water and luscious grass to feed on. In fact, the conditions are proving so favourable that Pablo’s so-called “Cocaine Hippos” are believed to be breeding at twice the underlying rate of their African cousins!

The Colombian hippo situation is a ticking ecological time bomb in urgent need of defusing. As the largest alien invader on the planet, these formidable creatures not only pose a serious threat to human lives, but also to the country’s native wildlife and ecosystem. Aggressively confrontational and territorial, if they reach the Amazon basin as feared by scientists, the consequences will be catastrophic.

To investigate the situation and hopefully find a solution, Colombian vet, Gina Paola Serna Trujillo, who has been tasked by the Government to contain the situation, is calling in the services of South African big game capture expert, Chris Hobkirk. Together they are on a  dangerous and risky mission to find and deal with Escobar’s terrifying legacy.

But is the challenge too great, the hour too late?

Team

Written and directed by Andrew Graham Brown
Executive producers Susanne Lummer, Sabine Holzer
Production companies A co-Production of Terra Mater Factual Studios, Smithsonian Networks and AGB Films, in association with Oak Island Films

Awards & Recognition

Hluboká nad Vltavou, Czech Republic IFF Water - Sea - Oceans Winner (Category: Best Film Story) 2021
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