The group caring for Hope, Saving the Survivors, say it is likely the cause of the iconic rhino's death was an infection in her small intestine.



"This courageous rhino has been the face of rhino poaching survivors since she survived a brutal attack in the Eastern Cape at the end of April last year," the group wrote on Facebook.

"Wandering alone in the bush for days, deeply hurt and with half her face hacked off, she survived against all odds. It was no wonder then, that she was christened Hope and became a worldwide ambassador for her species."