Is it just a Rat?
Locating buried landmines and rapid early detection of Tuberculosis in humans. What will these rodents accomplish next?
Rodent de-miners
Rat clinicians
To many people it’s just a rat, in fact a pest in commercial nut orchards, but the African pouched rat is making a name for itself.
The pouched rat buries goodies underground and has an exceptional sense of smell in order to locate these edible treasure troves later on.
Combine that with a reasonable degree of intelligence which makes them trainable but not too much intelligence that they get too easily bored and you get a great sniffing machine.
Traditionally dogs have been used for their smelling abilities but the pouched rat is proving more superior for certain application.
Dogs with higher intelligence don’t perform well at long tedious repetitive tasks and can be distracted.
The rats will just go on for hours and hours for treats. They are also reared and ready for the field faster.
The latest application they are being trained for is an anti-poaching role in sniffing out trafficked pangolin parts. It is hoped that they will also be able to assist with locating rhino horn and elephant ivory in the future too.
http://www.news24.com/Green/News/tanzanian-rats-to-sniff-out-trafficked-pangolins-20161120
amazing video
An old friend of mine prof in Third world countries(development aid) together with a biology student were the ones to do the first research with these rats(far as i know), i remember going to a center here in Belgium with these giant rats, when i was a young. She was a beautifull woman.
I sense a winsome note in that last sentence @nin0000 {smile}
Yes, if only i didn't stood there young, puberal, with nothing to say and a grumpy look, that's what i also remember.
@gavvet They remind me of Alexander township rats...they will bully you off the street ;)
Too true... they are legendary
My goodness
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