The Southern Highlands Wildlife Research Centre (SHWRC) was established in 2024 under the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) to coordinate and strengthen wildlife research in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. The Centre’s creation was driven by the need to address the region’s unique ecological challenges and to enhance scientific knowledge for sustainable conservation and management of its rich biodiversity. The headquarters of SHWRC is located at Kihesa Kilolo in Iringa Region, strategically positioned to serve as a hub for wildlife research, monitoring, and conservation initiatives across the Southern Highlands. This region is ecologically diverse, encompassing montane and miombo ecosystems, wetlands, and wildlife corridors that are critical for species survival and human–nature coexistence. In addition to research coordination, the Centre is entrusted with the management of captive breeding and conservation facilities for the Kihansi Spray Toad (Nectophrynoides asperginis)—an amphibian species once declared extinct in the wild. SHWRC oversees the facilities at the Kihansi Wildlife Station in Morogoro Region and the captive facility at the University of Dar es Salaam, ensuring continued conservation and reintroduction efforts for this globally significant species. Through its mandate, SHWRC provides a scientific base for conservation policy and management decisions in the Southern Highlands. The Centre is envisioned to grow into a regional leader in applied ecological research, ecosystem restoration, and community-based conservation, thereby advancing TAWIRI’s mission of safeguarding Tanzania’s wildlife heritage.