Emirates SkyCargo flies conservation dogs to Zimbabwe in anti-poaching partnership
Emirates SkyCargo has partnered with UK-based charity Dogs 4 Wildlife to transport specialist conservation dogs to Southern Africa in support of anti-poaching operations. The first phase of the initiative will see two Belgian Malinois - Vega and Kuda - flown from London to Harare via Dubai in late June 2026, where they will be deployed at Zimbabwe's Matusadona National Park to help wildlife rangers track poachers. The dogs, trained for human scent tracking, will form the foundation of a new conservation K9 unit in Zimbabwe.
The partnership aligns with Emirates' broader zero-tolerance stance on illegal wildlife trafficking, which includes a ban on transporting hunting trophies and robust cargo screening processes developed in collaboration with government authorities and conservation organisations. Since launching its illegal wildlife trade awareness programme, Emirates has trained more than 46,000 employees to identify and respond to potential trafficking risks. The announcement coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Buckingham Palace Declaration and the United for Wildlife High-Level Business Forum in London, where Emirates - a founding signatory of the Declaration - reaffirmed its commitment to cross-sector collaboration in combating wildlife crime across global supply chains.
Source: Emirates
