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Outlook: My close encounters with Escobar's hippos

Magazines & Reviews

My close encounters with Escobar's hippos

24/03/2020 GMT

BBC World Service - Outlook, My close encounters with Escobar's hippos

Jonathan Shurin studies the ecological effects of hippos once owned by the drug lord

Jonathan Shurin studies the ecological effects of an ‘invasive species’ to north-western Colombia. They are hippos once owned by drug lord Pablo Escobar, and they live in the wild.

Jonathan Shurin is an ecologist with an unusual research brief. He studies a group of hippos in north-western Colombia who trace their origins to the private zoo of drug lord Pablo Escobar. When Escobar was shot dead by police in 1993, the Colombian government seized his entire estate - but his four hippos were left to fend for themselves. They’ve lived wild in the area since then, and there are now between 80 and 100 of them. Along with biologist Nelson Aranguren-Riaño, Jonathan has published his study on the impact of the hippos on the local system – they are considered an ‘invasive species’. It will help to determine the future of the hippos in the area. Jonathan spoke with Outlook’s Rajan Datar.
 
Mukbang is the Korean word for the online video broadcasts of people eating - and often loudly enjoying - their food. It’s a phenomenon in South Korea, where the videos are hosted by so-called Mukbang BJs like MC Yusin. He’s a Mukbang broadcaster who films himself eating so that diners can watch and listen with their meals too - often a way of tackling loneliness. MC Yusin claims he was the first to do it.
 
When Syrian Tamim Kbarh posted a call-out on social media offering to help people improve their curriculum vitae, he got more than he bargained for. An impressive CV from Rahaf Al Iymoni dropped into his inbox and it was love at first resume. But he was in Turkey and she was in Syria. It would take a challenging three year journey and a virtual wedding for them to finally meet face to face.
 
Picture: Hippos at the Hacienda Nápoles ranch in Colombia
Credit: Getty Images

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