Secrets:  Cocaine and Hippos - what is the connection? The connection is that notorious pharmaceutical salesman, Pablo Escobar. Having accrued the sort of fortune that would make a Premier League footballer hide in shame, he decided to build a zoo at his Columbian mansion home. He ‘imported’ (smuggled!) four hippos in the late 1970s to add to his collection. After his death in 1993, the animals went to other zoos, but the hippos were released into the wild – and having no predators, flourished in the South American jungle and the rise of the so-called ‘cocaine hippos’ began. Now it is estimated there are between 80 and 120 and there are debates about what to do with this invasive species. Birth control is too expensive and culling would upset the locals who like having hippos. A slightly odd dilemma for conservation! In my piece the hippos are also having the last laugh enjoying the fruits of Mr Escobar’s ‘labour’. Carved around the lid are ‘Hacienda Napoles’, the name of Mr Escobar’s mansion, Pablo and Pepe (hippos) and 4/120 for the original and current numbers. I struggled to choose a colour for this piece so we asked our collectors to select their favourite – it was an even split, so there are two colour variations on this piece with 300 produced of each colour.