Two specialist conservation dogs transported by Emirates SkyCargo from London to Harare via Dubai have arrived safely and begun frontline anti-poaching operations at Matusadona National Park in Zimbabwe, Emirates said in a statement on September 3.

The two Belgian Malinois, named Vega and Kuda, were flown in partnership with UK-based charity Dogs 4 Wildlife and form the park's first specialist conservation K9 team, according to the airline.

Since arriving in Zimbabwe, the dogs have undergone more than 185 hours of practical training with six specialist K9 handlers, completing over 60 human-scent tracking exercises in just over a month, the statement said. Emirates said the dogs have "consistently demonstrated their capabilities to track illegal poaching activity," and that the first phase of the programme has also produced welfare and Standard Operating Protocols intended to provide a sustainable operating framework for the unit.

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates SkyCargo, said the carrier was proud to support the initiative.

"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," Abbas said, according to the statement. "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 said it maintains a zero-tolerance approach to illegal wildlife trafficking, including a total ban on transporting hunting trophies, and has trained its global frontline staff to identify, report and respond to potential trafficking risks. The airline is a founding signatory of the Buckingham Palace Declaration, an industry commitment developed with United for Wildlife to combat wildlife trafficking.

The airline also said it recently convened a multi-stakeholder workshop in Dubai on illegal wildlife trade, bringing together representatives from across the Emirates Group along with UAE authorities including the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Dubai Customs, Dubai Police, Dubai Airports, Al Ain Municipality, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The workshop examined early detection, escalation procedures, cross-agency coordination, and animal welfare and biosecurity considerations, according to Emirates.

Source: PR