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June 12, 2020 Rafiki, one of Uganda's best-known mountain gorillas, was killed. Four men were arrested for his death.

According to the Wildlife Protection Act passed last year, they face life imprisonment or a $ 5.4 million fine if found guilty of killing a specimen of an endangered species.  

BBC News reports online, recalling that just over 1,000 mountain gorillas remain, and citing the Uganda Wildlife Authority (Uwa) that Rafiki's death represents a "really hard blow".  

Rafiki was around 25 years old and was the leader of a group of 17 mountain gorillas accustomed to having contact with humans. He was killed in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

"Rafiki's death leaves the group unstable and there is a possibility that it may disintegrate," said Uwa's Bashir Hangi. The group "currently has no leadership and Rafiki could be replaced by a wild gorilla." 

If so, the group would no longer want to get in touch with humans, which could also affect Uganda's tourism, for which mountain gorillas are a source of interest.