Pregnant rhino poached at reserve | Rhewal

Binky, Noelle en Mimi. (Foto: Sibuya Game Reserve/Facebook)

The Sibuya game reserve described it as a dark day after two of its rhinos were poached in the past week. The award-winning reserve is located near Kenton-on-Sea in the Eastern Cape.

The rhinos Binke and Noelle were killed by “merciless poachers” on Tuesday evening, according to a statement from the reserve.

“We have been left speechless by grief.”

Binky and Noelle, who also have a one-year-old calf, were two of the reserve’s rhinos that were left orphaned after the last incident of poaching about six years ago. Both rhinos were pregnant and none of the calves survived the gruesome attack, the reserve says.

Binky is one of the rhinos poached this past week. (Photo: Sibuya Game Reserve/Facebook)

“The loss of these two magnificent animals has left us heartbroken and furious. Binky and Noelle were more than just rhinos – they were part of our Sibuya family.”

The reserve was also shaken in March 2016 when two rhinos were brutally killed there. At the time, members of the reserve’s anti-poaching unit went to investigate the well-being of another group of rhinos, when two rhino calves ran closer. One of the calves was bloody and flashing hazard lights.

Noelle and her calf, Mimi. (Photo: Sibuya Game Reserve/Facebook)

Rhewal has at the time report two rhino carcasses were subsequently found without their horns. The calves, aged three months and 11 months respectively, were sent away to be raised by hand.