Zorro the hippo is dead after being attacked by a white rhinoceros bull at the Fairy Glen Reserve near Worcester, the City of Cape Town said.

"Zorro was out of the water when he was attacked by the rhinoceros bull," said City Veterinarian Elzette Jordan.

She said Zorro became famous after he escaped from Rondevlei Nature Reserve in 2009. At that time he was attacked and forced out of the reserve by his father and went on to make his temporary home in the Strandfontein sewage works.

She said after an 18-month stay he was captured and taken to the Fairy Glen Reserve in July this year.

The game warden at Fairy Glen, Denis Pothas, told the City Zorro initially kept to the water most of the time.

"After starting to feel more at home, he could be seen moving around the reserve a lot more."

Jordan said when she visited him in November he had settled down and was in good health.

At that time already, she was warned that a white rhinoceros bull was aggressive as the cows were coming into heat.

A report with more details on his death is being prepared by the reserve.

"Many City officials are saddened to hear of Zorro's untimely death as they established a close bond with him in the months that were spent trying to capture him.

"Zorro was also very popular with many of the residents of Cape Town thanks to the extensive media coverage of his escapades."