The fate of 70 hippos that bred from animals that belonged to Colombian drug baron Pablo Escobar was looking a little brighter on Thursday, with many of the animals due to be relocated to sanctuaries abroad.
The problem authorities are still grappling with is the estimated $3.5 million cost of relocating the semi-aquatic mammals, which can live for up to 40 years.
About 150 hippos have roamed Antioquia department, where Escobar had a residence and bought a small number of the animals — by some accounts as few as four — in the late 1980s, before his death in a shoot-out with authorities in 1993.
The hippos were left to roam free in the highly suitable tropical and swampy environment, where their numbers started to soar, with many moving to the nearby Magdalena River.
Authorities said they planned to capture and move nearly half of the hippopotamuses in the coming months, with 10 bound for the Ostok Sanctuary in northern Mexico and 60 destined for an as-yet-unnamed facility in India.
“The whole operation should cost around $3.5 million,” said Ernesto Zazueta, owner of the Ostok Sanctuary.
Escobar was a notorious drug lord who rose to power in the 1970s and 1980s in Colombia, becoming one of the richest men in the world by controlling the drug trade, primarily cocaine, and by using extreme violence and intimidation to eliminate his competitors.
He is thought to be responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, including police officers, government officials, journalists, and civilians.
Along with sports cars and luxury villas, his vast drug empire allowed him time to pursue other interests, including setting up a private zoo with zebras, giraffes and flamingoes.
Anibel Gaviria, governor of the Colombian region that is home to the hippos, say they plan to use bait to lure the animals into pens, where they will remain confined before being put in special crates for the transfer.
Colombia had tried a sterilisation programme to control the hippo population, but it failed.
The environment ministry declared the hippos an invasive species last year, which opened the door to a potential cull.
But the hippo transfer plan is seen as a life-saving measure.
In the 1980s, the United States government began to focus on the drug trade as a threat to national security, and Colombia became a key target in the so-called war on drugs.
The US and Colombian governments worked together to dismantle Escobar's drug empire, but he was able to elude capture for years due to his vast resources and the loyalty of his followers.
In 1991, Escobar voluntarily turned himself in to the Colombian authorities, but continued to run his criminal enterprise from prison. In 1992, he escaped from prison and went into hiding, sparking an enormous manhunt that lasted for months.
In December 1993, Colombian authorities located Escobar in a safe house in Medellin, and a special police unit known as the Search Bloc was dispatched to capture him. After a tense stand-off, Escobar was shot and killed by the Search Bloc on December 2, 1993.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2)
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How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
TYPES%20OF%20ONLINE%20GIG%20WORK
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
Match info
Deccan Gladiators 87-8
Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16
Maratha Arabians 89-2
Chadwick Walton 51 not out
Arabians won the final by eight wickets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Company%20Profile
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Saudi Cup race day
Schedule in UAE time
5pm: Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Cup (Turf), 5.35pm: 1351 Cup (T), 6.10pm: Longines Turf Handicap (T), 6.45pm: Obaiya Arabian Classic for Purebred Arabians (Dirt), 7.30pm: Jockey Club Handicap (D), 8.10pm: Samba Saudi Derby (D), 8.50pm: Saudia Sprint (D), 9.40pm: Saudi Cup (D)
