Wildlife activist family 'humbled' by charity donations

Central
Sunday 29 January 2017 at 10:18am

It's a year since Roger Gower died after being shot by an elephant poacher. Credit: Family photograph.

It's a year since Wildlife activist Roger Gower from Birmingham died after being shot by an elephant poacher he was tracking while flying a helicopter over the Mwiba game reserve in Tanzania.

His family have spent the year since his passing building the foundations to continue Roger’s mission, establishing a charity focused on saving Africa’s wildlife through education.

In memory of Roger, they have now established the charity ‘Born to Fly.’The intention of the charity is to ensure Africa’s children and wildlife can realise their full potential.

Born to Fly will initially focus on two education projects, one in Kenya and one in Tanzania. By helping develop schools in troubled areas, Born to Fly say it is their mission to help children gain the education and skills they need to earn a livelihood and realise their potential.

It's thought these projects will help build stronger communities focused on protecting their wildlife and able to thrive without resorting to poaching.

£250,000 to fund these projects has already been raised and Roger's family say they have been humbled by the support they have received so far.

You can read more about the efforts of the charity here.

A picture of the helicopter wreckage was posted on Facebook by charity Wildlife At Risk. Credit: Wildlife at Risk.

Mr Gower, 37, was helping authorities in the country track the criminals when his aircraft was fired upon.

He brought the helicopter down in a game reserve near the Serengeti National Park but died from his injuries before rescuers were able to get to him.

Mr Gower, previously an accountant in London, qualified as a pilot in 2004 and moved to Africa around two years later - aiding Tanzania's struggle against illegal ivory.