These Rats Are Heroes: for More Than One Reason!

I cannot hide my passion for rodents. I find that they make lovable pets, at the same time smart and affectionate. My gerbils travelled the world with me (they followed me from one continent to another! And they are as happy as Larry!), make for great companions and are an integral part of my family. However, for how fond of rodents I can be, before hearing about the APOPO organisation, I could have never guessed that they can also be real heroes, and for more than one reason. Let's see how. Amongst the many problems the modern world is facing today, landmines and tuberculosis (TB) might be less evident to many of us than for example climate change or HIV. This does not mean that they are less alarming or that we should care less. Even though landmines and TB might seem unrelated issues, the solution for both is unexpectedly common, and it involves the use of the African giant pouched rats, nicknamed HeroRATs, as efficient detectors. Landmines are devices used during wars as underground explosives, set to detonate by pressure when the enemy passes over them. When the war is over, landmines that have not exploded are abandoned in the grounds, rendering the area uninhabitable. It is estimated that only about 3% of the lands that is considered off-limits contains, in fact, landmines. However, nearby communities are too scared to use it and are segregated in smaller territories that do not offer enough resources for their development. Today, there are still 57 states and ot...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news