British troops have spent the last three months working with rangers and conservationists in Malawi to relocate critically endangered black rhinos away from the danger posed by hunters.

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles have been training around 200 rangers in Liwonde National Park in the hope that they can step up their efforts against the illegal wildlife trade.

Poachers have decimated the numbers of black rhinos to around 5,500. The horn of the rhino is worth a lot of money to those in the Far Eastern 'traditional medicine' trade, as well as to those who wish to turn it into jewellery or aphrodisiac powder.

Credit: African Parks, photo by Kyle de Nobrega

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At the end of the three month period, the soldiers helped to organise the largest rhino international relocation ever, taking 17 of the 1.4 tonne beasts on air and road transport from KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, to the park in Malawi.

The commanding officer of the British Army Counter-Poaching Team, Major Jez England, has declared the operation to have been hugely successful'.

He said: "Not only d'o we share skills with the rangers, improving their efficiency and ability to patrol larger areas, but it also provides a unique opportunity for our soldiers to train in a challenging environment.

"Helping with the rhino move was a fitting end to our time in Malawi, getting up close to the animals we are here to help protect was an experience the soldiers won't forget."

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Credit: African Parks, photo by Kyle de Nobrega

Thus far, no animals have been killed by poaching in Liwonde since 2017, and nearly 200 rangers have been trained up.

That means that the rhinos have a chance of rebounding and surviving for a while yet.

The project was led by Malawi's Department of National Parks, African Parks, and Wildlife Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

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The rhinos are now being monitored closely to ensure they settle into their new surroundings.

The illegal wildlife trade is the fourth largest transnational crime, behind only arms, drugs, and human trafficking.

Credit: PA

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: "With this deployment, our armed forces have once again demonstrated their versatility and value by contributing to the conservation work taking place in Malawi.

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"Working with local communities, host governments and wildlife groups is key to our approach, we want to see sustainable, community-led solutions that help promote security and stability for both the people and wildlife of Africa."