RATS IN TINY VESTS HELPS CATCH ILLEGALLY TRAFFICKED WILDLIFE

Rats typically have a negative reputation, especially in urban areas. They work hard in Tanzania, though, and their keen sense of smell can save lives. They are so skilled at what they do that they are known as "HeroRATs." They are not only mission-driven, highly trained rodents, but they also look adorable in their work uniforms, which include backpacks and tiny vests. 

This unusual operation is run by APOPO, a nonprofit dedicated to using scent-detection animals, such as rats, for humanitarian training. APOPO initially trained rats to find landmines and identify illnesses like tuberculosis. According to a study that was published in Frontiers in Conservation Science, they might even be as adept at spotting the smell of illegally smuggled animal parts, such as rhino horns and elephant tusks.

Eleven rats were trained to identify wildlife items within shipping containers for the study. This was accomplished in a controlled laboratory environment by teaching the rodents to recognize wildlife items that have been trafficked. By keeping their noses close to their hidden target for a few seconds, they also learned how to communicate this to people. 

They were later given vests, and in a mock port setting, they were tested on how fast they could activate an electronic microswitch to indicate when they had spotted a wildlife target. The rats received a treat consisting of a mixture of avocado, banana, and crushed chow pellets as a reward for discovering the illicit items.

Researchers at their training headquarters in Morogoro, in eastern Tanzania, explain that rats have a long lifespan, a sophisticated sense of smell, low training and maintenance costs, and the ability to work flexibly with multiple handlers. "Their compact size also provides special capabilities for screening shipping containers, like the ability to manoeuvre through crowded spaces or be raised to inspect sealed containers' contents using screening ventilation systems."