Elephant poachers shoot dead British pilot in Tanzania game reserve
- 8 years ago
MASWA, TANZANIA — A British pilot working for Tanzanian authorities and conservation initiative Friedkin Conservation Fund was killed in Tanzania on Friday by a group of poachers he caught on a serious hunting spree.
During an operation in Tanzania's Maswa Game Reserve last week, Roger Gower, 37, spotted two elephant carcasses. While Gower was looking for the poachers, he heard gunshots. After flying toward the gunshots, Gower and his colleague, safari guide Nicky Bester, came across a fresh elephant carcass on the ground below. BBC Radio 5 reports that Gower then turned their helicopter around to take another look.
At that point, one of the poachers emerged from cover and fired an AK-47 at the helicopter, reported the Guardian. The bullet entered the helicopter, hitting Gower's leg and shoulder before exiting through the roof.
Despite being shot, Gower managed to maneuver the helicopter into a tree, and Bester was able to escape. According to the Guardian, Bester called for help using a satellite phone and GPS. He was hospitalized and survived the incident, but Gower's injuries proved fatal.
Tanzanian authorities have arrested three suspects in connection with the killing.
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During an operation in Tanzania's Maswa Game Reserve last week, Roger Gower, 37, spotted two elephant carcasses. While Gower was looking for the poachers, he heard gunshots. After flying toward the gunshots, Gower and his colleague, safari guide Nicky Bester, came across a fresh elephant carcass on the ground below. BBC Radio 5 reports that Gower then turned their helicopter around to take another look.
At that point, one of the poachers emerged from cover and fired an AK-47 at the helicopter, reported the Guardian. The bullet entered the helicopter, hitting Gower's leg and shoulder before exiting through the roof.
Despite being shot, Gower managed to maneuver the helicopter into a tree, and Bester was able to escape. According to the Guardian, Bester called for help using a satellite phone and GPS. He was hospitalized and survived the incident, but Gower's injuries proved fatal.
Tanzanian authorities have arrested three suspects in connection with the killing.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. Come here for an animated look at viral headlines, US news, celebrity gossip, salacious scandals, dumb criminals and much more! Subscribe now for daily news animations that will knock your socks off.
Visit our official website for all the latest, uncensored videos: http://us.tomonews.net
Check out our Android app: http://bit.ly/1rddhCj
Check out our iOS app: http://bit.ly/1gO3z1f
Get top stories delivered to your inbox everyday: http://bit.ly/tomo-newsletter
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