It’s Official — Hippos Are People, Too

Landmark Legal Ruling Sets New Precedent For Animal Rights

Hippos Have Been Legally Recognised as People

Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar was the richest criminal in history. At the time of his death in December 1993 he had amassed an estimated net worth of US$30 billion — that’s equivalent to around $64 billion today! Dubbed ‘The King of Cocaine’, he completely monopolised the cocaine trade into the United States in the 1980s and early 90's.

Escobar’s story is a fascinating one which no doubt deserves a book in its own right. For example, in 1991 Escobar surrendered to the authorities on the condition that he would reside in a prison he built himself, complete with bar, jacuzzi, waterfall, football pitch and (bizarrely) a giant doll house!

Part of the condition of his surrender was that he got to choose his own prison guards, so he naturally chose those loyal to him. Nevertheless, he ended up having four of his lieutenants tortured and murdered within the prison.

Up until that point, the Columbian authorities had been willing to turn a blind eye to his continued drug smuggling operations, but this was the last straw and they demanded Escobar’s transfer to a regular jail. When he refused to be moved, the Columbian National Army were sent to collect him, but Escobar had built the prison more to keep out his…