The National Republican Guard (GNR) has inaugurated a new K9 laboratory to reinforce the fight against environmental crime, at a time when Portugal is registering a record number of environmental complaints. In 2025, the SOS Environment and Territory hotline received more than 15,500 complaints from citizens, highlighting the strategic importance of this new infrastructure in combating environmental crime and protecting biodiversity.
Reinforced resources
The GNR is a fundamental Portuguese authority in the fight against environmental crime, both through its preventive presence on the ground and its immediate reactive action in detected or suspected cases. The Canine Intervention Group (GIC) has been crucial in deterring, detecting and investigating wildlife crime, particularly in cases involving the illegal use of poisons.
The GNR has also been formally involved in numerous nature conservation projects, such as LIFE Aegypius Return, LIFE LxAquila and LIFE Wild Wolf, projects that co-funded the recently inaugurated laboratory.
These new facilities optimise safety and operating conditions for storing training materials and equipment, as well as target odours for the specialized poison detection sub-field, strengthening the technical-scientific aspect and the quality of canine training.
Within the framework of the LIFE Aegypius Return project, the GNR’s canine resources were also reinforced with the acquisition and training of three new dogs specialised in poison detection, with one canine team established in Queluz and two in the Guarda region. This reinforcement of capacity speeds up the ability to intervene in the Central and Northern regions of the country.
The GNR’s operation has been essential in detecting and investigating several cases of Cinereous Vultures falling victim to wildlife crime, such as poisoning or shooting, as well as in the rapid rescue of weakened birds.
Excellence in K9 Services
GNR’s canine operation celebrates 69 years. It originated on 31 December 1956, the date that marked the foundation of the current GIC and the beginning of a specialisation that, over nearly seven decades, has established itself as an operational capability of excellence.
The GIC specialises in security, intervention and search with dogs, running advanced courses and training military personnel from the GNR and other forces, both in Portugal and abroad, for complex missions, and is currently an international benchmark for excellence.
Always at the forefront of specialised training, the GIC – as well as the NAT (Technical Support Centre) and SEPNA (Nature and Environmental Protection Service) – are currently taking part in the WildLife Crime Academy, an international programme to strengthen capacity to combat wildlife crime led by the Vulture Conservation Foundation.
Citizen Surveillance
In Portugal, if you have witnessed a wildlife crime or suspect of illegal environmental activities, please contact GNR/SEPNA via the “SOS Ambiente e Território” hotline at 808 200 520, by email at sepna@gnr.pt, or through the form available at https://www.gnr.pt/ambiente.aspx.
About LIFE Aegypius Return
The LIFE Aegypius Return project is co-financed by the European Union’s LIFE programme. Its success depends on the involvement of all the relevant stakeholders, and the collaboration of the partners: the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF), the coordinating beneficiary, and the local partners Palombar – Conservação da Natureza e do Património Rural, Herdade da Contenda, Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves, Liga para a Protecção da Natureza, Associação Transumância e Natureza, Fundación Naturaleza y Hombre, Guarda Nacional Republicana and Associação Nacional de Proprietários Rurais Gestão Cinegética e Biodiversidade.
