Next Generation K9 Elephant Guardians for the Place of Elephants, Zimbabwe

Anti-poaching efforts in Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe, will be enhanced by providing advanced, on-the-ground training in counter-terrorism techniques to the park's K9 units and supporting law enforcement teams. Targeting the protection of African savannah elephants, the initiative addresses escalating threats from sophisticated wildlife crime syndicates through a structured one-month program that includes classroom mentoring, peer-led operations, and trainee-executed scenarios, integrating real-time responses to incursions with tools like tracking dogs and geo-aware radios. Project efforts are another step towards achieving a 100% reduction in elephant poaching in the Gonarezhou Landscape and fostering safer deployments, improved efficacy, and long-term sustainability by embedding these practices into standard operating procedures. This K9 training will ultimately benefit elephant populations, adjacent habitats, and local communities through expanded secure areas and potential tourism opportunities.

IEF #AF1059

Project Years: 2026

Project Partners:
Jason Crafter, Working Dogs for Conservation