Dreaming Of A Cajun Hippo Hunt

FIELD ETHOS

Sponsor
Since 2024
AH senior member
Joined
Nov 19, 2024
Messages
84
Reaction score
149
Website
fieldethos.com
Deals & offers
1
Media
2
Articles
18
https://fieldethos.com/cajun-hippo-hunt/

Screenshot_7.jpg

By Caleb McClain

Giant Asian carp swimming in rivers, buck-toothed nutria rats in the bayous, 300-pound feral pigs tearing up fields—Louisiana is no stranger to invasives. And the resourceful residents of the Cajun State usually find a way to incorporate these animals into their cuisine—or at least use them as bait for their target species.

But did you know there was once a time when the bayous were planned to be filled with hippos?

It all started in 1884, when visitors to an agricultural convention were introduced to a flowering aquatic plant from the Amazon: the water hyacinth. The public fell in love with its ornate purple blooms, and thanks to fair organizers giving them away for free, the plants quickly spread throughout the state. It didn’t take long before these attractive invaders were choking out nearly every waterway. The state needed to find a solution—and fast.

The Cajun Hippo Solution​

At the same time, the nation was facing a growing meat shortage. Enter Representative Robert Broussard, who argued that the simplest way to solve both problems was by introducing hippos to the bayous. In 1910, he officially presented his plan to the House Committee on Agriculture. Thus, House Resolution 23261, better known as the “American Hippo Bill,” was born.

His argument—based on neither science nor common sense—was that the supposedly docile hippos could be penned up in small enclosures of just a few acres. They’d eat the hyacinths, grow fat, and then be slaughtered for meat. The whole idea was marketed under the charmingly absurd label of “lake cow bacon.”

The plan, of course, was riddled with flaws. First and most obviously: hippos are anything but docile. Anyone who’s spent even a few days in Africa knows they’re among the most dangerous animals on the continent, killing roughly 500 people each year. There was no logical way to import them en masse from the Zambezi or Chobe rivers across the Atlantic, through the port of New Orleans, up the Mississippi, and into inland farms—especially when so many of the waterways were already clogged with the very hyacinths they were meant to eat.

Second, Broussard proposed containing four-ton hippos with three-strand barbed wire—something that can’t even hold an eland. Anyone with experience around livestock could tell you that more hippos would escape than be contained.

And finally, no one even knew whether hippos would actually eat the hyacinths, which are toxic to many animals.

Rough Rider Support​

Despite these glaring issues, the idea gained surprising traction. Even Theodore Roosevelt voiced support—though I strongly suspect it was less about lake cow bacon and more about another part of the bill: a proposal to import dozens of game animals from his recent safari to populate public lands across the United States.

In a country still recovering from the devastation of market hunting, Broussard and his allies proposed releasing at least 100 species of African and Asian game into any government land that could support them—everything from dik-diks and giraffes to rhinos, yaks, and bushbuck. Yes, if Broussard had had his way, we could be chasing cape buffalo with .470 Nitro Express doubles in Wyoming today.

Fortunately for our nation’s ecosystems—and maybe our personal safety—the House didn’t bite. Broussard was elected to the Senate in 1914, but the assassination of some archduke in a country no American had heard of, combined with a tangle of treaties, plunged most of the world into a not-so-great war. The European powers who controlled Africa had better things to do than sell us hippos.

Still, you have to wonder what things would be like if Broussard and Roosevelt had gotten their way. Would I be able to draw a black rhino tag on the Kaibab Strip? Would we be hunting the kudu rut each fall in Colorado? And how good would hippo étouffée be?
 
the hippo,s i saw in africa didn,t seem to friendly, they didn,t like crocks and would chase them.
 
https://fieldethos.com/cajun-hippo-hunt/

View attachment 701396

By Caleb McClain

Giant Asian carp swimming in rivers, buck-toothed nutria rats in the bayous, 300-pound feral pigs tearing up fields—Louisiana is no stranger to invasives. And the resourceful residents of the Cajun State usually find a way to incorporate these animals into their cuisine—or at least use them as bait for their target species.

But did you know there was once a time when the bayous were planned to be filled with hippos?

It all started in 1884, when visitors to an agricultural convention were introduced to a flowering aquatic plant from the Amazon: the water hyacinth. The public fell in love with its ornate purple blooms, and thanks to fair organizers giving them away for free, the plants quickly spread throughout the state. It didn’t take long before these attractive invaders were choking out nearly every waterway. The state needed to find a solution—and fast.

The Cajun Hippo Solution​

At the same time, the nation was facing a growing meat shortage. Enter Representative Robert Broussard, who argued that the simplest way to solve both problems was by introducing hippos to the bayous. In 1910, he officially presented his plan to the House Committee on Agriculture. Thus, House Resolution 23261, better known as the “American Hippo Bill,” was born.

His argument—based on neither science nor common sense—was that the supposedly docile hippos could be penned up in small enclosures of just a few acres. They’d eat the hyacinths, grow fat, and then be slaughtered for meat. The whole idea was marketed under the charmingly absurd label of “lake cow bacon.”

The plan, of course, was riddled with flaws. First and most obviously: hippos are anything but docile. Anyone who’s spent even a few days in Africa knows they’re among the most dangerous animals on the continent, killing roughly 500 people each year. There was no logical way to import them en masse from the Zambezi or Chobe rivers across the Atlantic, through the port of New Orleans, up the Mississippi, and into inland farms—especially when so many of the waterways were already clogged with the very hyacinths they were meant to eat.

Second, Broussard proposed containing four-ton hippos with three-strand barbed wire—something that can’t even hold an eland. Anyone with experience around livestock could tell you that more hippos would escape than be contained.

And finally, no one even knew whether hippos would actually eat the hyacinths, which are toxic to many animals.

Rough Rider Support​

Despite these glaring issues, the idea gained surprising traction. Even Theodore Roosevelt voiced support—though I strongly suspect it was less about lake cow bacon and more about another part of the bill: a proposal to import dozens of game animals from his recent safari to populate public lands across the United States.

In a country still recovering from the devastation of market hunting, Broussard and his allies proposed releasing at least 100 species of African and Asian game into any government land that could support them—everything from dik-diks and giraffes to rhinos, yaks, and bushbuck. Yes, if Broussard had had his way, we could be chasing cape buffalo with .470 Nitro Express doubles in Wyoming today.

Fortunately for our nation’s ecosystems—and maybe our personal safety—the House didn’t bite. Broussard was elected to the Senate in 1914, but the assassination of some archduke in a country no American had heard of, combined with a tangle of treaties, plunged most of the world into a not-so-great war. The European powers who controlled Africa had better things to do than sell us hippos.

Still, you have to wonder what things would be like if Broussard and Roosevelt had gotten their way. Would I be able to draw a black rhino tag on the Kaibab Strip? Would we be hunting the kudu rut each fall in Colorado? And how good would hippo étouffée be
I am actually suprised that there not some in fl.
With all the (pets) that have been let loose on us.
I keep hearing about water buffalo out on the wild. But have had no solid confrontation.

It would not surprise me if there were hurricane nocking down hunting ranch fences

I know I have ran in to swamp cows after they were supposed to be removed.
 
While US government couldn’t work the details, Pablo Escobar was able to import some into his ranch in Colombia.
he started with 4 now there more than a hundred roaming the rivers with no predators or hunting
 
While US government couldn’t work the details, Pablo Escobar was able to import some into his ranch in Colombia.
he started with 4 now there more than a hundred roaming the rivers with no predators or hunting

Was waiting for someone to mention this. Supposedly, in that range, you cannot get close to them. They are every bit as cantankerous as their native African cohorts.
 
Let’s see ways to cook hippo:
Barbecue, boil, broil, bake, saute, hippo kebabs, hippo creole, hippo gumbo, pan-fried, deep-fried, stir-fried, pineapple hippo, lemon hippo, coconut hippo, pepper hippo, hippo soup, hippo stew, hippo salad, hippo and potatoes, hippoburger, and hippo sandwich.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
62,803
Messages
1,379,524
Members
121,307
Latest member
577Tyrannosaur
 

 

 

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

Enjoy Sailing and Flying light Aircraft, over 800 hours Singles and twins - bought a Light Sport 2 seat Aircraft to use here in Kenya. I built and raced saloon cars at my local tracks years ago
I have a couple of motorcycles and background in Mech. Eng. and a Gorgeous Kenyan Wife
I am a long standing shooter, from 1980 Pistol Shooting and Target Rifle, Red Deer Stalking Scotland, later Roe Deer and Wild Boar in UK, Germany and Finland, Chamois in Germany and Italy. Living in Kenya 1 hour from the Tanzania border.
jbirdwell wrote on Jager Waffen74's profile.
Sir, I will gladly take that 16 gauge off your hands. I was waiting for your Winchesters but I'm a sucker for a 16 ga.
DaBill wrote on liam375's profile.
This is Bill from Arizona. If you still have the DRT's I would like to have 3 boxes
Let me know about pmt.
Thanks
teklanika_ray wrote on SP3654's profile.
I bought a great deal of the brass he had for sale, plus I already had many hundred rounds.

How much brass are you looking for?

Ray H
 
Top