Rory Young
Rory Young working in Mali to protect Desert Elephants, 2017
Born(1972-05-21)May 21, 1972
Zambia
DiedApril 26, 2021(2021-04-26) (aged 48)
Burkina Faso
Occupations
  • Conservationist
  • anti-poaching strategist

Rory Young (21 May 1972 – 26 April 2021) was a Zambian-born Irish wildlife conservationist and anti-poaching strategist. His company, Chengeta Wildlife, operates across Africa.[1]

Young was killed by jihadists in Burkina Faso, West Africa, along with the Spanish journalist David Beriáin and the documentary filmmaker Roberto Fraile[2] while working on a documentary about his work in Africa.[1]

Personal life

Young was married to Marjet Wessels. They have two children together, a son and a daughter. The Youngs resided in the Netherlands.[3]

Young was active on the question-and-answer site Quora.[4] He was a Top Writer on the site, and his contributions galvanized people all over the world to protect wildlife.

Death

On 26 April 2021, Young was killed along with Spanish journalists and documentary filmmakers David Beriáin and Roberto Fraile, after their convoy was attacked by Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin militants in Burkina Faso, while working on a documentary about wildlife poaching.[5] After initially successfully repelling the attack, the convoy was overrun and the three Europeans tried to escape in their vehicle. At first they managed to hide, but after a few hours they were found and murdered by the terrorists.[6][7][8]

References

  1. 1 2 "Chengeta: Who we are". chengetawildlife. April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "Wildlife preservationist Rory Young and two reporters killed in Burkina Faso". PBS NewsHour. 27 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Irish father of two killed by jihadis in Burkina Faso was 'wildlife hero'". Extra.ie. 28 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "Rory Young - Quora". www.quora.com. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  5. ↑ "Jihadist terrorism takes hold in Burkina Faso". Market Research Telecast.
  6. ↑ Heaney, Steven; Glennon, Nicole (28 April 2021). "'Doing what I can before it's too late': Irish wildlife champion killed in ambush". Irish Examiner.
  7. ↑ Hayden, Sally. "Irish wildlife activist killed in Burkina Faso with two journalists". The Irish Times.
  8. ↑ "Burkina Faso: Irish citizen shot dead in ambush named as Rory Young". The Independent.

Rory Young: The 'Mad Max' of wildlife - Obituary, Irish Times

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