The cruel news of a famous mountain gorilla killed by poachers in Uganda has caused sadness around the world. The sad incident signifies a strong setback in the efforts used for decades to protect and keep this species from danger of extinction.

The silverback gorilla named Rafiki, was 25 years old, and he was the leader of a group of gorillas of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park , since 2008.

A statement made on June 12, by the Ugandan Wildlife Authority, says that four men were captured for being the possible perpetrators of the incident.

Killed famous Ugandan gorilla

Rafiki, was the favorite ape of all tourists, and apparently died after a hunter stuck a spear in his belly. According to the autopsy carried out, the spear deeply penetrated Rafiki’s belly and reached his vital organs, causing his death.

Tragic news for the authorities in charge of the protection of this species, since the last death of a gorilla at the hands of humans had been registered in 2011.

Rafiki’s family usually looked for food on the borders of the park, there they had encounters with humans, but it was a fairly quiet group.

Anna Behm Masozera, director of the International Gorilla Conservation Program, told National Geographic :

“It is a symbolic group when it comes to coexistence. Rafiki’s death and the circumstances surrounding her are important. He was the only mature male in this iconic group.

Rafiki had gone missing on June 1, and a search party in the park found his body the day after he disappeared.

The rangers, hurt by the incident, decided to track down those responsible and reached a nearby village, where the poachers were allegedly located.

In the place they found meat of animals, traps, a spear, collars with bells for hunting dogs and they captured a man.

The man confessed that he and three other subjects had been hunting antelope in the park and that they murdered Rafiki in self-defense.

Under Ugandan law, the four men will face jail time or a $ 5.4 million fine if convicted of killing an endangered species.

Despite the fact that Rafiki was not killed for his meat, the incident has occurred after warnings issued by conservationists and authorities.

According to them, the crisis generated by the coronavirus and the mandatory isolation established, could force people to resort to poaching.

Because all parks are closed and tourism is temporarily blocked, animals are less protected in their habitat.

Anna said:

“Park managers in the range of mountain gorillas observe more human activities than normal, many of them illegal.”

This also increases the risk of illegal hunting moving to different locations and people encountering mountain gorillas; precisely as it happened with Rafiki. In addition, there is a risk that people can transmit the coronavirus to primates, due to genetic similarities to humans.

Although it is unfortunate news, these primates have made an astonishing recovery, after decades of poaching that drastically decreased their populations.

In the 80s, the population was reduced to 350 animals, now, large populations of apes number more than 1000 individuals. These populations are divided into two main groups, one in Bwindi and in a network of parks in the extinct volcanoes of Virunga.

Thanks to the excellent work of the authorities, in 2018, the International Union for Conservation of Nature , raised its classification from endangered species to critically endangered species.

Anna says that part of the success is the work that is done with local communities, supporting their ecotourism initiatives in the region.

Unfortunately the lack of tourists, due to the isolation, has caused people to engage in other activities such as poaching. And although many people are turning to agriculture to make ends meet, the arrival of dry weather will reduce agricultural production, exacerbating the situation.

In addition to poaching, conservationists are concerned that Rafiki’s death could directly affect his family, called the Nkuringo group.

Cathy Lawson, Primatologist and Regional Manager for WWF-UK in East Africa, said:

“Silverback gorillas like Rafiki play a very important role in group stability and cohesion, so this loss will have a significant impact on the group. His death is tragic.

Perhaps another silverback ape not so used to humans will take over the group and keep them away from tourists, something that will further affect the region’s economy. Usually, when a silverback dies, the family members are often dispersed into other groups where other dominant primates can kill their young.

Despite all these scenarios, conservationists are determined not to lose all their efforts and to continue working to protect mountain gorillas.