British helicopter pilot killed by poachers in Tanzania

A British helicopter pilot working for a wildlife charity in Tanzania has been shot dead by elephant poachers.

Mr Gower was originally from Birmingham and worked in London before moving to East Africa to work as a helicopter pilot.

His brother Max told the BBC: "He would not have gone anywhere near those poachers if he'd known that they were armed.

"As I understand it, he knew they were around but came across them by accident. He didn't really have enough time to evaluate the situation before they opened fire on him."

Tropic Air Kenya

The Friedkin Conservation Fund said Roger Gower had been helping to find the criminals when they fired on his aircraft.

Tanzanian police have arrested three suspects over the death of the pilot working for a conservation fund .

Natural Resources and Tourism Minister Jumanne Maghembe told AFP news agency that those detained were co-operating.

"Soon more people making up the poaching gang will be netted and brought to justice," he said.

Roger Gower, 37, had been flying near an elephant killed by poachers when his helicopter came under fire.

The incident happened in Maswa Game Reserve, which borders the Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania.

Mr Gower managed to land his helicopter, but died before he could be rescued, a Tanzanian MP and former minister for natural resources and tourism, Lazaro Nyalandu, said in a tweet.

Max Gower also said his brother would be remembered as "very much his own man".

"He had a very strong moral compass. He just loved having fun, he couldn't be with his friends without making sure that everybody had fun."

The Gower family have invited donations to a fund established in Roger's memory that will contribute towards anti-poaching efforts in Tanzania.

The Friedkin Conservation Fund, for which Mr Gower had been working, said the organisation had lost "a dear friend".

The charity's founder, Dan Friedkin, said: "We believe that Roger can best be honoured by redoubling our commitment to protect elephants and our priceless wildlife heritage.

"This tragic event again highlights the appalling risk and cost of protecting Tanzania's wildlife."

From BBC News