South Africa: Poachers kill 2 rhinos; 2 calves orphaned

JOHANNESBURG – A spokeswoman for a South African wildlife park said poachers have killed two white rhino cows and seriously injured a bull.

Marketing manager of the Sibuya Game Reserve, Charlene Watson, said Saturday two orphaned calves, aged three and 11 months and still suckling, were sent to a sanctuary.

Watson said the bull suffered serious injuries to his legs when he fell. She said poachers sawed his horn off.

Watson said several wildlife parks in South Africa's Eastern Cape province have been targeted by poachers in recent years.

In a Facebook post, reserve owner Nick Fox said he was on patrol with an anti-poaching security unit when he discovered the rhino carcasses early Thursday morning.

There are about 20,000 southern white rhinos left in the world, most in South Africa.