Fund honouring British pilot Roger Gower killed by poachers raises £90k

Shot down: Pilot Roger Gower
Ben Morgan15 February 2016

The brother of a pilot killed by elephant poachers today said he was “blown away” after receiving around £90,000 in donations to start conservation projects in his memory.

Former City worker-turned-pilot Roger Gower, 37, was killed when ivory poachers opened fire on the helicopter he was piloting at a game reserve in Tanzania on January 29.

Mr Gower was an experienced pilot who was taking part in a government-backed campaign against poachers in the Maswa Game Reserve when armed men opened fire at the helicopter.

Despite being injured he was able to land the craft and escape to the bush, where he died. His brother Max, 42, set up a JustGiving page to raise money to benefit anti-poaching organisations in the East African country.

It has already raised £63,000 in donations with a further £25,000 pledged when Max sets up a registered charity.

He told the Standard: “The whole family is blown away by the level of support. It’s got us through the last few weeks seeing how incredibly generous the British public are — more than that in fact as we’ve had donations from Canada and Australia.”

Four Tanzanian men were jailed last week for at least 15 years, having pleaded guilty to illegal possession of firearms at a court in Dar es Salaam. They are among nine people held over the murder of Mr Gower and will go on trial at a higher court later this year.

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