Four facing possible life sentences for brutally killing endangered gorilla

One of Uganda’s best known mountain gorillas, Rafiki, has been killed, BBC reports. There are just over 1,000 mountain gorillas in existence and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) described Rafiki’s death as a “very big blow”.

One of those arrested confessed to killing the gorilla in self-defence.

Investigations showed that Rafiki was killed by a sharp object that penetrated his internal organs. According to media reports, four men have been arrested, and they face a life sentence or a fine of $5.4m (£4.3m) if found guilty of killing an endangered species.

The silverback, believed to be around 25-years-old when he died in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, was the leader of a group of 17 mountain gorilla.

CD eNews – BBC – Uganda Wildlife Authority