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Prince Harry joins fight against poachers in South Africa

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Following the death of Cecil the lion, Prince Harry is doing his bit to protect endangered species, by joining an anti-poaching unit. The sporty royal, who is volunteering in Africa for conservation projects, was secretly flown to South Africa last week where he has been based at a military camp in Kruger Park.

The national park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa and home to the Big Five animals, as well as black and white rhinos.

Harry, 30, is understood to have joined Operation Corona, an anti-poaching campaign led by the government.

prince harry1 © Photo: Getty Images

Prince Harry, pictured previously, has joined an anti-poaching unit in the Kruger National Park

The Queen's grandson has been going on night patrols with an army unit made up of several hundred infantry, 400 armed rangers, policemen and other special forces, who are all fighting the battle against poachers.

Sources said that Harry will be able to use his experience as an Apache helicopter pilot, given that surveillance planes and helicopters are used in the search for poachers.

According to a report in Mail Online, more than 300 poachers have so far been killed.

Major-General Johan Jooste, 62, has taken the prince under his wing and told the publication: "Harry will be with me for quite some time. We'll try to keep him safe."

prince harry © Photo: Getty Images

The 30-year-old royal is in Africa to complete volunteer and conservation work

South African conservationist Peter Chadwick added: "This is counter-insurgency, an actual war that they are fighting. I know of Prince Harry's involvement with the anti-poaching unit in Kruger and I know the situation there is no fun and games. You don't get a chance to sit down and reason with these guys over a cup of tea.

"It's all about rapid response and that's where the helicopters come in. I wouldn't be surprised if Harry was doing some piloting."

In June, Harry, who held the rank of captain in the British armed forces, left the army after ten years of service. He embarked on his three-month African adventure shortly after, and started his trip by shadowing Dr. Pete Morkel, a veterinarian in Namibia.

"For me, it's three months of hard grafting, working with animals," Harry said at the time. "To actually get the chance to embed myself with the top vet in southern Africa, travel with him for three weeks and every job he gets called up to do, that's like my dream."

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