African Wildlife Foundation 98d ago

Illegal wildlife trafficking is evolving, with faster routes, smarter concealment, and increasingly coordinated criminal networks. Across Africa, AWF’s Counter–Wildlife Trafficking program is responding by strengthening the full chain of justice: detection, deterrence, investigation, and prosecution. This is where our partnership with British Airways becomes transformative. Together with the Kenya Wildlife Service and world-class trainers, we are equipping a new generation of canine handlers who can detect illicit wildlife products, interpret canine behaviour as evidence, and present airtight cases in court. This work goes far beyond training dogs; it builds a strategic ecosystem that protects Africa’s wildlife where it is most vulnerable, at transit hubs, porous borders, and in rapidly shifting logistics networks. From detection drills and scent-recognition training to courtroom-ready evidence collection, these teams are strengthening Africa’s frontline defenses while reinforcing global commitments like the Buckingham Palace Declaration. The result is a smarter, more resilient approach to shutting down wildlife crime before it crosses continents. This film captures the human stories behind that mission, the science, the discipline, the bond between handlers and their canines, and the collective resolve to stop traffickers in their tracks. Watch the video and see how African leadership, global partnership, and canine intelligence are shaping the future of counter–wildlife trafficking.