Uganda is mourning the death of Rafiki, a gorilla silver-back who enjoyed a certain popularity in this landlocked country in East Africa. Disappeared on the 1st of June, the ape of 25-year-old was found dead the next day within the Bwindi national park, in Kisoro district, report our colleagues from the british newspaper The Independent.

A quick survey has helped to track down poachers, who allegedly killed the animal with a spear, a weapon that has penetrated the internal organs of the victim. Four people have been arrested in this case. One of the poachers, Felix Byamukama, has said during his hearing to have acted in self-defence. He swears, in fact, have been responsible, he and his friends, by a group of gorillas when he was launched in pursuit of a wild pig.

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— Uganda Wildlife (@ugwildlife) June 12, 2020

The pandemic of Covid-19 leaves the national parks without supervision

Environmentalists and tour operators remember that concert that this murder is the latest in a long series, showing that the fauna of uganda is suffering the full brunt of the harassment of poachers. Ivan Mbabazi Batuma, in charge of tourism in Kigezi, a natural reserve located more to the south, this upsurge of acts of poaching is the result of the containment measures implemented in the framework of the pandemic Covid-19. The absence of forest guards and guides, in fact, gives the national parks unattended.

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many voices are calling for the authorities to increase the measures for the protection of gorillas, an endangered species, which attracts many tourists. The tourism sector could also greatly suffered because of this situation, warns Ivan Mbabazi Batuma. Wyclef Rushaju, director of Gorillas and Beyond Safaris, considers, however, that the inhabitants of the vicinity of the park must cease to focus on the poaching, and activities to develop income-generating projects to support their economic stability.