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 safely arrived and begun frontline operations at Matusadona National Park in Zimbabwe.

The Belgian Malinois dogs have completed more than 185 hours of practical training with six K9 handlers and over 60 human-scent tracking exercises, demonstrating their ability to track illegal poaching activity. They form the park’s first specialist conservation K9 unit, with the first phase of the program also introducing welfare measures and Standard Operating Protocols.

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates SkyCargo, said the carrier believes wildlife protection is a core responsibility. Transporting live animals requires the highest standards of safety, precision and care, and we are proud to have leveraged our expertise to transport Vega and Kuda from the UK to Zimbabwe, he said.

Emirates SkyCargo maintains a zero-tolerance approach to illegal wildlife trafficking, including a complete ban on transporting hunting trophies. The carrier trains frontline teams to identify and report trafficking risks. Emirates is a founding signatory of the Buckingham Palace Declaration and works with United for Wildlife to support industry efforts against wildlife trafficking.

The deployment of the K9 unit represents a growing trend of Dubai-based logistics companies leveraging their capabilities for conservation initiatives across Africa. Emirates SkyCargo has increasingly positioned itself as a leader in ethical cargo transport, with specialized handling protocols for live animals and a commitment to combating the illegal wildlife trade.

In conjunction with the K9 deployment, Emirates recently hosted a multi-stakeholder workshop in Dubai focused on raising awareness of Illegal Wildlife Trade. The workshop brought together representatives from the Emirates Group, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Dubai Customs, Dubai Police, Dubai Airports, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Through case studies and scenario-based discussions, participants explored early detection, escalation procedures and cross-agency coordination.

The initiative reinforces Dubai’s growing role as a hub for international wildlife conservation efforts and its commitment to industry collaboration in preventing trafficking.