Hope died last week - has the hope of her species gone with her?

Hope - a white rhino cow - was brutally attacked in April 2015 and left for dead.

After having a portion of her face sawn off by poachers in removing her horn, she survived and vets have been trying to treat her ever since.

Rhino horn is currently sold for more than its weight in gold. Some killing of rhinos is done with automatic weapons and high powered rifles on foot, others are poached using tranquilizer darts from helicopters. In the latter case the horns are often hacked or sawn off with chain saws while the Rhino's are still alive.

Government ministers, vets and others who should be helping to curb this scourge are instead being found to be accomplices, all in the name of a quick buck.

Last week Hope finally succumbed to a bacterial infection of the intestines. Its likely the ongoing trauma and stress made her more susceptible.

Her story below:

and if you have the stomach for it...

Hope died last week - has the hope of her species gone with her? - warning graphic content

Hope - a white rhino cow - was brutally attacked in April 2015 and left for dead.

Government ministers, vets and others who should be helping to curb this scourge are instead being found to be accomplices, all in the name of a quick buck.