K9 Unit Operations in Lower Zambezi, Zambia

The Lower Zambezi Area Management Unit comprises almost 20,000 km2 of land and is one of the last remaining African savannah elephant strongholds. Rapid human population growth and its location bordered by Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and the Great East Road make it a popular transit route for transboundary illegal wildlife product trade. In response to a surge in wildlife crime and trafficking from 2014-2016, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and Conservation Lower Zambezi established specialized K9 and Rapid Response Units to help in law enforcement. Trained for both tracking and detection of illegal wildlife products including ivory, bushmeat, pangolin, rhino horn, rifles, ammunition and various pelts, the dogs conduct vehicle searches with their handlers at checkpoints eliminating channels of movement for illegal wildlife products. This year’s support provides equipment, rations, communication tools, and refresher trainings to the K9 Unit which will average three 10-day operations per month. The K9 Unit will also participate in the annual Working Dog Workshop with Resolve Wildlife.

IEF #AF1037

Project Years: 2019 – 2025

Project Partners:
Ian Stevenson, Conservation Lower Zambezi, Zambia
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