Hippo from Pablo Escobar's herd spotted prowling near school as urgent hunt launched

Hippo from Pablo Escobar's herd spotted prowling near school as urgent hunt launched The hippo was spotted walking freely through a quiet neighbourhood in Colombia, with locals watching on as it roamed near a school and approached a home A giant hippo from Pablo Escobar's infamous herd has been spotted roaming near a school, sparking fears for children and alarm amongst residents. The huge animal was seen wandering freely through a quiet neighbourhood on August 10, with locals watching on as it made its way through the streets and even approached a home. The shocking sighting unfolded in the El Limonar neighbourhood of Barrancabermeja, Colombia, with one resident filming the hippo as it wandered through the area. Environment department officials went to the scene to investigate and found tracks showing where the animal had travelled. They believe the hippo entered the neighbourhood through the La Lira creek, apparently emerging from a nearby wetland. The animal is part of a population that began after notorious drug lord Escobar brought several hippos to his private estate in Colombia in the 1980s. The animals have since multiplied to more than 200 and spread beyond the area where they were originally kept. Leonardo Granados, the city's Environment Secretary, said a local resident had watched the animal emerge from the area. He said: "According to the testimony of the young man who was able to observe from this window that the hippo came out, this is where it entered. "Here are the tracks showing that it flattened all the vegetation, came out, went around that area and then went back in." The area is now being scoured by vets, biologists and Environmental Police officers in an attempt to locate the animal and establish the route it took. Authorities are also looking into the possibility it could be the same hippo previously spotted at least three times in rural areas of the municipality. Granados said the district would work to implement risk-prevention protocols relating to invasive species that could pose a danger to residents. The aim would be to capture the animal and relocate it away from Barrancabermeja. Since January this year, the district has reportedly submitted more than 20 requests to Colombia’s Ministry of Environment and Regional Autonomous Corporations over the presence of hippos in the city. Several sightings have been reported in Barrancabermeja this year, increasing concerns about the animals venturing into populated areas. "We are concerned about the safety of children; we are concerned about the safety of families," Granados said. "We are here talking right next to this house; it is already in the urban area." Authorities have proposed installing camera traps with the Jaguar Foundation to monitor the animal's movements and establish where it is travelling. It remains unclear whether the hippo is the same one seen elsewhere in the department in previous sightings. Authorities have urged anyone who spots a hippo not to approach it and to immediately report the sighting to the National Police or Environment Department.