K9 unit flown by Emirates SkyCargo to Zimbabwe begins frontline operations

Vega and Kuda, two specialist conservation dogs, transported by Emirates SkyCargo from London to Harare via Dubai in partnership with UK charity Dogs 4 Wildlife, have arrived safely and acclimatised to their new operational environment at Matusadona National Park, Zimbabwe.

The two Belgian Malinois dogs are now undergoing advanced integration training alongside park rangers. Since arriving in Zimbabwe, Vega and Kuda, part of the park’s first specialist conservation K9 team, have participated in more than 185 hours of practical training with six specialist K9 handlers. In just over a month, the dogs have completed more than 60 human-scent tracking exercises and have consistently demonstrated their capabilities to track illegal poaching activity. The first phase of the programme has also delivered tangible outcomes including the implementation of welfare and Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs) for the dogs providing a sustainable operating framework for the K9 unit.

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “At Emirates SkyCargo, we believe that the protection of wildlife is a core responsibility and we are delighted to partner with Dogs 4 Wildlife to support their mission to protect endangered ecosystems. Transporting live animals by air requires the highest standards of safety, precision and care and we are proud to leverage Emirates SkyCargo’s world-class handling expertise and infrastructure to transport Vega and Kuda from the UK to Zimbabwe on our flights. We are sure that the dogs will make a strong contribution, working in the front lines protecting the wildlife of Matusadona National Park.”

Emirates SkyCargo is deeply committed to protecting wildlife and takes a zero-tolerance approach to illegal wildlife trafficking. The carrier has placed a total ban on the transportation of hunting trophies and has trained its global frontline teams to identify, report and respond to potential wildlife trafficking risks. Emirates is one of the founding signatories of the Buckingham Palace Declaration, working with United for Wildlife to contribute to the industry-wide efforts to combat wildlife trafficking.

 Emirates’ Illegal Wildlife Trafficking Awareness Workshop in Dubai

As part of its ongoing efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking, Emirates recently convened a multi-stakeholder workshop in Dubai focused on raising awareness of Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) and strengthening operational coordination across the aviation ecosystem. The interactive workshop brought together representatives from across the Emirates Group and key UAE authorities and other stakeholders including the Ministry of Climate Change & Environment, Dubai Customs, Dubai Police, Dubai Airports, Al Ain Municipality and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Through real-world case studies and scenario-based discussions, participants examined approaches to early detection, escalation procedures, cross-entity coordination, animal welfare and biosecurity considerations. The initiative reinforces Emirates' commitment to enhancing industry collaboration, strengthening frontline preparedness, and supporting collective efforts to prevent wildlife trafficking through Dubai.

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