Uganda
A Ugandan man who pleaded guilty to killing a rare silverback gorilla was condemned to 11 years in prison on Thursday.
A 25-year-old male gorilla named Rafiki was found dead in June at the Bwindi National Park in Uganda. Rafiki was the dominant male in a family of 17 mountain gorillas.
The suspect told investigators that he killed the gorilla in self-defense.
About one thousand mountain gorillas live in protected areas in Congo, Uganda and Rwanda.
Tourism in national parks brings critical funds to protect the animals, but since the coronavirus pandemic, the industry has collapsed, and concerns about how to protect vulnerable animals are rising.
Mountain gorillas are now critically endangered due to the surge of illegal hunting.
Go to video
Kenya on high alert as Ebola outbreak in DR Congo fuels border fears
01:00
Kazakhstan’s first Open Asian Falconry Cup showcases ancient hunting heritage
02:15
Mobile labs speed up Ebola testing in eastern DR Congo
00:55
East African countries are racing to finish preparations ahead of AFCON 2027
01:09
Botswana under fire after authorising elephant killing for independence celebrations
02:19
Uganda buries King Oyo as death sparks succession row