A Tanzanian social enterprise founded by two Belgians called APOPO, trains Gambian pouched rats to detect land mines and tuberculosis with their highly developed sense of smell.
These trained giant rats are called HeroRATS.
Currently studies are being conducted in the USA and other locations about the best ways to train these creatures and their abilities/limits to detecting the mines.
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Gambian pouched rat
The Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus), also known as the African giant pouched rat, is a nocturnal pouched rat of the giant pouched rat genus Cricetomys. It is among the largest muroids in the world, growing up to about 0.9 metres (3 ft) long including their tail which makes up half their length. It is widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging geographically from Senegal to Kenya and from Angola to Mozambique (although it is absent from much of the DR Congo, where Emin’s pouched rat is present) and in altitude from sea level to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft).
These giant rats are helping save lives in Africa and maybe elsewhere in the near future.
What do you think of these awesome rats? 🙂
Nelson Eguizabal
Never thought rats could be this useful. Both land mines and tuberculosis kill lots of people in Africa and many other places. I am grad to read things like this. It just goes to show you some species considered pests could be useful to humanity.