The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) has handed over a modern facility to the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) to strengthen the agency’s efforts in combating wildlife crime and protecting the country’s rich natural heritage.
The new facility, dedicated to the TAWA K9 Unit, will enhance the use of trained sniffer dogs in detecting illegal wildlife products and curbing trafficking at border posts, customs checkpoints, and airports in Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at TAWA’s Northern Zone offices in Arusha, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Hamis Semfuko, Chairperson of TAWA’s Board of Directors, said the K9 Unit has proven to be an essential force in the country’s fight against wildlife crime.
“The sniffer dogs have played a crucial role in intercepting illegal wildlife products and preventing the smuggling of government trophies through borders and airports,” said Semfuko.
He added that TAWA remains committed to expanding and modernizing the K9 Unit by recruiting more officers, acquiring new equipment, and providing regular training to improve operational efficiency.
Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Semfuko also commended AWF for its continued partnership in wildlife conservation, urging other stakeholders to follow suit.
“We appreciate AWF for funding this important facility. Protecting our wildlife is a collective responsibility, and we welcome more partners to join hands with TAWA in this mission,” he said.
AWF Country Director, Pastory Magingi, said the facility will support law enforcement operations and provide a safe and comfortable environment for the trained dogs.
“Our collaboration with TAWA focuses on practical solutions to strengthen anti-trafficking efforts. These dogs are not only well-trained to detect wildlife contraband but also symbolize the growing innovation in conservation enforcement,” Magingi said.
He noted that AWF, in collaboration with TAWA, has also developed operational guidelines for managing conservation dog units across the country.
Earlier, TAWA Acting Conservation Commissioner, Mlage Yussuf Kabange, said the facility—made possible through a strong partnership between TAWA and AWF—includes six kennels, an office, a food storage area, restrooms, and a fenced training ground.
Kabange revealed that beyond the current sniffer dog operations, TAWA plans to establish a Tracking Dog Unit and a National Dog Training Centre to expand the use of dogs in wildlife law enforcement.
Meanwhile, Assistant Conservation Commissioner Segoline Tarimo, representing the Northern Zone Commander, highlighted the K9 Unit’s successes in intercepting illegal wildlife products at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) and border crossings.
“The K9 Unit has significantly reduced trafficking attempts through our key entry points. With this new facility, our officers and dogs will work more efficiently and under better conditions,” Tarimo said.
The event concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AWF and TAWA, focusing on strengthening cooperation in the use of sniffer dogs and technology to combat wildlife trafficking.
The partnership between TAWA and AWF underscores Tanzania’s growing commitment to safeguarding its wildlife and curbing cross-border poaching—an effort crucial to protecting the country’s biodiversity and sustaining its tourism-driven economy.