Zimbabwe state media report that at least 40 black rhinoceros have been poached from the country's parks and conservancies over the last three years.
Saturday's edition of the state-run Herald newspaper quotes World Wildlife Fund public relations officer Melody Maunze as saying the black rhino appear to have been under siege during that period.
Maunze tells the Herald the WWF is concerned about the increasing levels of poaching in the nation's parks and the lack of anti-poaching measures in place. She says rhinos have been killed deliberately for their horns, and that not one poacher has been arrested.
Zimbabwe Parks Director Morris Mtsambiwa insists that black rhinos are very safe under protection zones that have been created. But Maunze says implementation of wildlife policies appears to be largely ignored by provincial and district governments.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.