- On January 29, elephant poachers shot and killed Roger Gower, a British helicopter pilot in Tanzania.
- Gower managed to land the helicopter, but died before rescuers could reach him, according to media reports.
- Government officials have arrested five suspects, media reports say.
On January 29, elephant poachers shot and killed Roger Gower, a British helicopter pilot, in Tanzania.
Gower, 37, and Nicky Bester, a safari guide, were flying over Maswa game reserve located near Serengeti National Park following reports of three elephants that had been killed by poachers in the area. A poacher reportedly broke cover when Gower flew close to one of the dead elephants, and fired upon the helicopter from the ground with an automatic rifle. The bullet hit Gower in his leg and shoulder, according to media reports.
Gower successfully landed the helicopter, reports say, but died before rescuers could reach him. His co-passenger, Bester, survived.
“Roger was killed while piloting a helicopter during a coordinated effort with the Tanzanian wildlife authorities to track down and arrest active elephant poachers,” Dan Friedkin, Chairman of Friedkin Conservation Fund, wrote in a statement. “In the course of this action the poachers fired upon the helicopter and Roger was fatally wounded.”
Lazaro Nyalandu, former minister of Tanzania’s Natural Resources and Tourism called the killers “cowards” on Twitter.
RIP Capt Roger. You loved our country and I knew you on many flights we took together in defence of our wildlife heritage. Life is precious
— Lazaro Nyalandu (@LazaroNyalandu) January 30, 2016
Those poachers who killed Capt Roger are coward, evil, and sad people. A fine hearted individual gone too soon, and our hearts are broken
— Lazaro Nyalandu (@LazaroNyalandu) January 30, 2016
Government officials have arrested five suspects so far, including a person suspected of supplying ammunition to the poachers, and a person suspected of helping the poachers with accommodation in the reserve near Serengeti National Park, Pratik Patel of Friedkin Conservation Fund told the Independent.
Roger Gower’s brother, Max Gower, told Sky News that he was proud of his brother. “I’m proud of what he did,” he said. “I’m proud he got his passenger down safely. I’m proud he got himself out of the helicopter and I’m proud that even after he was shot he was still laughing.”
Tanzania is an elephant poaching hotspot. Between 2009 and 2014, elephant numbers in the country have plummeted by more than 60 percent, from nearly 110,000 to fewer than 44,000. Experts say that elephant poaching in Africa has become more sophisticated and industrialized following the involvement of international crime gangs.
“We are committed to honoring Roger and his work,” Friedkin wrote. “We are also committed to ensuring that those responsible for this attack are found and brought to justice. We believe that Roger can best be honored by redoubling our commitment to protect elephants and our priceless wildlife heritage.”