14 rhino found dehorned in South Africa provinces, 11 survive; More than 455 killed this year

JOHANNESBURG – Police say 14 rhinos in two South African provinces have been found illegally dehorned in the past week. Three of them died.

Capt. Paul Ramaloko said late Sunday that eleven of the rhinos were found at the Hartzhoogte game lodge in the country's North West province, where two had died. Ramaloko said a driver taking tourists on a game drive in the Eastern Cape found three dehorned rhinos that had been darted, including one who died. He said the surviving rhinos are being treated and police are investigating.

At least 458 of the country's endangered rhinos have been illegally hunted and killed this year.

South Africa is home to some 20,000 rhinos. Growing Asian demand for rhino horn is believed to be behind the poaching spike.