A man who pleaded guilty to killing a beloved mountain gorilla in a popular national park has been sentenced to 11 years in prison over wildlife offences, the Uganda Wildlife Authority said. A gorilla advocacy group said an autopsy revealed that Rafiki appeared to have been killed by a spear. She said it is more likely the man came across the gorilla while out hunting for smaller game. Bashir Hangi, a spokesman for the Uganda Wildlife Authority, said he hoped the sentence would be a deterrent. A gorilla tracking permit costs up to 600 US dollars in Uganda, and thousands of tourists pay each year.

Source: Irish Independent July 30, 2020 17:03 UTC