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

Greenpeace loses Indian registration

Greenpeace says its charitable registration to operate in India has been revoked.

The environmental campaign group says that the decision effectively shuts it down in India.

The government of Narendra Modi has previously accused Greenpeace of flouting tax laws and having an anti-development agenda.

The pressure group has been working in India for 14 years and employs more than 300 people.

The BBC's correspondent in Delhi, Justin Rowlatt, says Mr Modi's government has been accused of a major crackdown on NGOs and charitable groups ever since he came to power in 2014.

Greenpeace says it plans to challenge this latest decision. It follows a ruling that the organisation could not raise money abroad - which was itself successfully challenged.

Interim Executive Director Vinuta Gopal said in a statement:

"We are confident that we are on strong legal ground. We have faith in the legal process and are confident of overcoming this order."

From BBC Scirnce/Environment

Plan to save the Scottish wildcat

Plan to save the Scottish wildcat

It's been captured by a hidden camera in the Western Highlands.

Habitat loss, breeding with domestic cats and disease has left the wildcat in trouble.

It's thought there's now fewer than a hundred left in the world.

But conservationist say they've found six areas in the Highlands where the species has the best chance of survival.

They're asking local people, including kids, to get involved in the fight to save wildcats by setting up hidden cameras.

Experts will use the footage to learn more about the creatures and how they can help them survive.

Dr Paul O'Donoghue from the wildlife charity, Wildcat Haven, says he wants more people living in the areas to join the project.

"We have a template for wildcat conservation and we're looking to expand that across the whole of the West Highlands," he said.(CBBC Newsround)

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