A rhino has been killed and two others have been darted for dehorning by poachers at the Aquila private game reserve in Worcester, Cape Town, it was reported on Monday.

A six-year-old male rhino was killed and its horns were hacked off with a machete on Saturday, reported The Star newspaper.

Another male was darted and its horn was removed with a chainsaw, but the animal survived the attack. The surviving male's four-year-old female calf was darted twice, but was not dehorned.

It was believed that anti-poaching patrols might have scared off the poachers.

According to Beeld, the injured male was recovering well and was no longer in a critical condition. – Sapa