Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Rats!

Did you know that Pouched Rats are trained to detect landmines and other explosive devices? APOPO, a German organization, trains rats, known as HeroRATS to detect explosives. Their lightweight body lets them walk on the mine without it exploding.

 


When they detect a mine, they are given a bite of banana.


The training takes about 9 months. They can even detect tuberculosis! The rats can test many more T.B. test samples than laboratory techniques can—100 in 20 minutes, which would take a lab technician up to four days using. These rats can even detect a person’s tuberculosis BEFORE he gets it!


This is Magawa. He has sniffed out over 100 landmines and explosives. Magawa spent five years making former conflict zones in Cambodia safer for local communities. His exceptional work earned him global recognition, numerous awards, and admiration from millions. The necklace he is wearing is an award medal for his outstanding work.



"A rat is neither good nor evil. It does what a rat has to do."
- Jo Nesbø


15 comments:

CheerfulMonk said...

Thank you for telling us this! That's ingenious. ❤️

roentare said...

The pouched rat looks so cute. I actually just called pest control company to kill rats in the household

DawnTreader said...

I wonder if he appreciated his medal?? ;-)

MadSnapper n Beau said...

he is so cute, this is amazing. would be great if they could teach them to detect cancer like they do the TB, he is not your average rat..

Ann said...

I had no idea. How fascinating and impressive. Who knew that rats could be so useful.

Mari said...

Wow! I've never heard of pouched rats and find it fascinating that they can to this.

Shug said...

Who would have ever guessed such a thing.. just have to wonder who would think to train them to do something like this. Thankful that this can save lives. haven't heard of the pouched rats....

Red Rose Alley said...

Oh Ginny, I have a dreadful fear of mice and rats, so I could barely even look at these pictures haha. These rats even look different than regular ones, they're huge! Isn't that something that they are trained to detect landmines. This is very interesting Ginny.

~Sheri

Jeanette said...

That's amazing! We certainly can find a use for all of God's creatures!

Debby said...

They’re cute and look cleaner and well taken care of - not like the big rats we recently had in our backyard! I say, put the rats to work - give them a job and they won’t be raiding our bird houses etc! 🐀🐀

HappyK said...

Wow amazing. I've never heard of this before.

Carla from The River said...

WOW!!! Now that is amazing. I wonder if our military uses rats, I will have to ask my Sam.
Carla

Leslie's Garden said...

Now that's some cool info! I've also heard that rats are being fitted with tiny cameras so they can go into rubble from earthquakes looking for people. Haven't heard if they've actually used the rats yet.

Chatty Crone said...

Now I have truly, truly heard everything. I don't know if it is so cool or so weird. But, I loved this story!

Annie Jeffries said...

What a fascinating read. Enjoyed it. And what a cutie.

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