Conservationist Killed Whilst Chasing Elephant Poachers
Wildlife conservations are mourning the loss of a British helicopter pilot that was shot sitting in his aircraft whilst he was tracking elephant poachers in Tanzania. Roger Gower who was just 37 was assisting park rangers locate the poachers that were responsible for the death of elephants in the Maswa Game Reserve. Whilst he was doing this one poacher leapt out from the bush and shot at his aircraft with an AK-47. Apparently Mr. Gower was flying too close to an elephant carcass that was being guarded by the poachers who had not yet harvested the animal’s tusks.
Dangerous to work in conservation
According to a report in The New Age a passenger travelling on the aircraft sustained minor wounds and managed to leap from the helicopter as it crashed. Mr. Gower was somehow able to land the aircraft but died before help arrived. Five men have been arrested in connection with the murder and the incident highlights just how dangerous it can be for those people who work hard to protect against the killing of Africa’s elephants and rhinos.
Poachers aligned with terrorists
According to a report in The Independent, poachers often align themselves with terrorist organisations such as Boko Haram and the money that is earned from ivory sales in Asia is used to fund such groups. Pratik Patel who was Mr. Gower’s colleague at the Friedkin Conservation Fund said that many people were arrested in connection with his murder including the people who supplied the ammunition and accommodation for the poachers.
Lazaro Nyalandu a local Tanzanian politician was quoted by the Telegraph as saying “Those poachers who killed Captain Roger are coward, evil, and sad people. A fine-hearted individual gone too soon, and our hearts are broken. Everything must be done to bring them to justice.”
Gang will be brought to justice
Jumanne Maghembe who serves as Natural Resources and Tourism Minister for Tanzania said the men that were arrested have been cooperating and he expects that more members of the poaching gang will be arrested and brought to justice. The population of elephants in Tanzania has dropped dramatically from 110,000 in 2009 to just 43,000 in 2014, largely because of sophisticated poaching rings.
