A helicopter pilot in Tanzania was killed by poachers during a mission to help stop the killing of elephants in the country's Maswa Game Reserve.
Roger Gower's helicopter took fire from the ground on Friday, reportedly by poachers using AK-47s. Gower managed to land the helicopter but died before rescue workers arrived.
Gower flew daily patrols at the reserve looking for poachers as well transferring people between camps there, said the
Friedkin Conservation Fund website.
Pratik Patel, a colleague at the Friedkin Conservation Fund, told the Press Association that Gower was flying to investigate three elephants killed by poachers when he came under attack.
Tanzania's foreign office confirmed the death of Gower, who was from Birmingham, England, and said it was giving assistance to his family, reported the
BBC News.
"Roger was killed while piloting a helicopter during a coordinated effort with the Tanzanian wildlife authorities to track down and arrest active elephant poachers," said Dan Friedkin, chairman of the Friedkin Conservation Fund.
"In the course of this action the poachers fired upon the helicopter and Roger was fatally wounded. We are committed to honoring Roger and his work. We are also committed to ensuring that those responsible for this attack are found and brought to justice. … This tragic event again highlights the appalling risk and cost of protecting Tanzania¹s wildlife."
Lazaro Nyalandu, a member of the Tanzania parliament, praised Gowers in a series of Twitter posts.
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