Irish father of two killed by jihadis was ‘wildlife hero’
Ambush in Burkina Faso leaves three dead
AN Irish father of two who dedicated his life to the protection of animals was among three people murdered by jihadis in Burkina Faso.
Rory Young, who had dual citizenship in Zambia and Ireland, was ambushed and taken hostage by gunmen while leading an antipoaching patrol on Monday.
Spanish journalists, David Beriáin, 44, and photographer Roberto Fraile, 47, were working with the campaigner – described as a ‘wildlife hero’ – on a documentary about poachers in a national park bordering Benin when they were attacked.
The Spanish citizens were also kidnapped and murdered.
Mr Young was a father of a young son and daughter.
On the 15th anniversary of his marriage to his wife Marjet, he shared a touching tribute to her on Facebook.
‘Happy anniversary my love! It feels like yesterday that we first met... Thank you for everything,’ he wrote.
‘Thank you for our beautiful children, for being such a wonderful mother to them and such a support to me. Thank you for your patience and thank you for your love.’
At the time of the attack, they were travelling with an anti-poaching patrol with about 40 people, including military personnel.
An audio message that purports to be from the jihadist group known as JNIM that is linked to al-Qaida claimed responsibility for the attack.
‘We killed three white people. We also got two vehicles with guns, and 12 motorcycles,’ said the recording.
Four convoy members were wounded in the ambush while another Burkina Faso national remains missing.
Mr Young was the co-founder and president of Chengeta Wildlife, an antipoaching organisation based in Africa. He was renowned throughout the world among conservationists, with his group known as the ‘last line of defence’, putting themselves between animals and the people who mean them harm.
Over the years, Mr Young and his team have come under direct fire, engaging not only with would-be poachers but also terrorist groups, known to profit and fund their activities using the proceeds derived from lucrative wildlife crime. As well as providing training to anti-poaching teams across Africa, Mr Young also coauthored A Field Manual For AntiPoaching Activities, a widely used and respected guide providing real, workable solutions to the poaching crisis.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it is providing consular assistance to Mr Young’s family in Ireland.
‘The Department of Foreign Affairs continues to closely follow unfolding developments in Burkina Faso,’ they said. ‘The situation is complex and officials are working with relevant actors on the ground, including Spanish and EU colleagues, to ensure that the full facts are established and followed up on as a matter of urgency. The department has been in contact with the family
‘What do you say to their families?’
of the Irish citizen and is providing all possible consular support.’
Chengeta Wildlife said it would not comment on the tragedy as it was preparing an official statement.
Sergio Lopez, founder of Wildlife Angel, expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, saying: ‘On behalf of all my staff and our members, I extend our sincere condolences to the families of the missing three.’
Mr Young’s convoy was ambushed on Monday morning while travelling 15km from their base at the eastern town of Natiaboni. When the jihadists attacked, the soldiers tried to form a protective shield around the two journalists and Mr Young. One devastated soldier said in the aftermath of the killings: ‘It’s like you leave your house with ten people, you go to work and then you come back with eight people. What do you say to those two people’s families?’.