JOHANNESBURG: Poachers have slaughtered 455 rhinos in South Africa so far this year, surpassing the record annual tally for 2011, the government said Tuesday.
 
"The latest rhino poaching statistics indicate that a total of 455 rhinos have been lost to illegal killings since the beginning of this year," the department of environmental affairs said in a statement.
 
Last year, a total of 448 rhinos were poached, up from 333 in 2010 and just 13 in 2007. (AFP)