The war against wildlife crime has take another victim . While tracking elephant poachers from a helicopter over a game reserve in Tanzania , British original Roger Gowerwas shot by the crook . He managed to fell the whirlybird down into a tree , allow his colleague and friend to jump out , before crashing the fomite into the ground and succumb to his trauma . Gower had been vanish anti - poaching operations over the Maswa Game Reserve for the Friedkin Conservation Fund .
According to his fellow , Gower was flying near one of three elephant carcasses that had recently been kill when the poachers opened blast on the eggbeater with an AK-47.One of the bulletspassed through the level of the chopper and hit Gower in the leg , passing through and striking him again in the berm before exit through the roof . Those responsible for the tragical issue on Friday have been call “ coward[s ] , evil , and deplorable people ” by Lazaro Nyalandu , a former Tanzanian minister for natural resources and tourism .
The remains of the helicopter that Roger Gower was fly when he was shot by elephant poachers . Wildlife At risk of infection .
Dan Friedkin , the founder of the Friedkin Conservation Fund , said thatthe organization was “ deeply saddened by the exit of our dear admirer . ” He went on to tell thePress Association : “ We are attached to honouring Roger and his work . We are also committed to ensuring that those responsible for for this attempt are found and brought to justice . We believe that Roger can best be abide by by redoubling our commitment to protect elephants and our invaluable wildlife inheritance . ”
Within two days , the Tanzania police declare theyhad arrestedthree suspects think to be involved with Gower ’s decease . They are accused of harboring and provide transport for those who fired the shots .
Wreckage of Capt Roger ’s crashed helicopter . He was charge down and kill by a poacher with an AK 47Poachers shoot and …
Posted byWAR - Wildlife At Risk InternationalonSaturday , 28 January 2025
Gower , 37 , was a former accountant from Birmingham , England , who train as a pilot in 2004 , before moving to Kenya where he cultivate for 10 years flying both commercial and anti - poaching flight . It is imagine that he only lately moved to Tanzania , and only began working for the Friedkin Conservation Fund in Maswa since October or November . “ He was worked up about the job . It ’s a shame he has n’t had an chance to do it for longer , ” Gower ’s chum , Max , toldThe Guardian .
“ He was take flight a lot of anti - poaching , ” continues Max . “ He would never have die near a sea poacher with a gas . As I understand it , he was taken by surprise , he did n’t see the poachers until he was very close to them . I do n’t know whether the bozo was shooting to stamp out or not , but he kill him . ” Max has now place up acrowdfunding campaignto raise $ 72,000 ( £ 50,000 ) to help anti - poaching campaign in Tanzania , to verify his pal ’s tragical death was not in vain .
