A BRITISH soldier has been killed by an elephant while on counter-poaching operations in Malawi, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced.

Guardsman Mathew Talbot, a 22-year-old from Birmingham, died on Sunday in what the department said was a “tragic incident.”

The soldier was in Malawi with the 1st battalion Coldstream Guards on his first operational deployment since he joined the army in 2013.

Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt MP said: “I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Guardsman Mathew Talbot, who died while carrying out vital counter-poaching work in Malawi.

“This tragic incident is a reminder of the danger our military faces as they protect some of the world’s most endangered species from those who seek to profit from the criminal slaughter of wildlife.”

British troops have been operating in Malawi’s Nkhotakota and Majete wildlife reserves since last May as part of Operation Corded. 

They are training 120 local rangers in tracking, infantry skills and bush craft.

The scheme is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as part of a £26 million pot to prevent illegal wildlife trade. 

Mr Talbot is the first British soldier to die on operations since an SAS member was killed in Syria last year.

His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ed Launders, said: “It was typical of his character to volunteer for an important and challenging role in Malawi.

“He was hugely proud of his work as a counter-poaching operator, and tragically died doing great good.”

Labour’s shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith MP described the death as “tragic news.