Uganda mourns the death of Rafiki, a 25-year old male silverback gorilla, the leader of a gorilla group, who was hugely popular with tourists. Rafiki was the head of a 17-member gorilla group called Nkuringo. He was killed by poachers in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

According to a statement issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Rafiki went missing from his group on June 1st, 2020. The following day, a team from UWA mounted a search for him. His body was found within the park that same day. UWA revealed that a post-mortem showed that a sharp device or object was used to penetrate Rafiki’s abdomen and pierced his internal organs.

UWA personnel arrested four men this week. The men confessed to the killing of Rafiki by a spear allegedly in self-defense while they were illegally hunting other animals in the park from where he charged on them. The men were found in possession of bush pig meat and several hunting devices which included a spear, rope snares, wire snares, and a dog hunting bell.

Poaching has increased in Uganda’s national parks in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic which made the country to close parks to tourists. The accompanying lockdown has forced rural people to resort to illegal hunting out of desperation which has put the lives of animals at risk. Animals need our protection now more than ever.

Rest In Peace Rafiki.