Poachers kill rhino in French zoo

Thoiry, France – Poachers broke into a French zoo, killed a rhinoceros, then used a chainsaw to remove his horn, French authorities said.

According to an NBC News report, the suspects entered the Thoiry Zoo overnight and shot Vince the rhino three times in the head. He was 5-year-old.

Zookeepers found the carcass on Tuesday.

The director of the zoo told BFMTV, “What happened is something that’s extremely shocking and very disturbing. It’s something that has never happened in France nor abroad. The Poachers forced themselves through security and entered the zoo last night. Then they went into the rhinoceros’ box. They shot one with a gun and sawed off its ivory tusk!”

Two other rhino’s were unharmed.

The African rhino’s horn can reportedly fetch over $40,000 on the black market.

The Thoiry Zoo, located 30 miles from Paris, is a “safari park” that visitors can drive through in a vehicle.

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