Five Held Over UK Pilot Killed By Poachers

Five people have now been arrested over the killing of a British pilot whose helicopter was shot down by elephant poachers in Africa.

Roger Gower, 37, was helping to track poachers in Tanzania's Maswa game reserve when his chopper came under fire on 29 January.

The bullets went through the floor of the aircraft, hitting him in the leg and shoulder.

He managed to safely land the helicopter, but died before rescuers could reach him. His passenger survived the ordeal.

The Friedkin Conservation Fund said a suspected gunman and accomplices plus members of an ivory smuggling gang are among those arrested.

Dan Friedkin, chairman of the Texas-based group, said: "We are confident that the Tanzanian authorities will investigate and prosecute those involved to the absolute full extent of the law.

"By bringing these individuals to justice, it will honour Roger's memory.

"We also fervently hope that it will mark the turning point in Tanzania in the fight to protect elephants and our wildlife heritage."

Tanzania is fighting to stop ivory poachers - a report last year said 60% of its elephant population had been killed in the previous five years.

:: Brother's Tribute To Pilot

China is the world's largest market for illegal ivory.

Last year, Tanzania charged a Chinese woman, Yang Feng Clan, 66, with smuggling 1.9 tons of ivory from the country.

Mr Gower, a former accountant, qualified as a pilot in 2004 and moved to Africa two years later, according to his former employer Tropic Air Kenya.

His brothers Max and John Gower set up a crowd-funding page in his memory to help fund anti-poaching efforts in Tanzania.

At the time of writing, the site had raised more than £48,000 - just short of its £50,000 target.