oh i love rats! they are so smart.. can you please tell me what type of rat is this? because my pet rats don't get this big. i want that rat! .. and good job with your work, i know people are afraid the rats will be injured, but it's no different than bomb sniffing dogs. good job!
@fetishdiva1 We train African giant pouched rats (or Gambian pouched rats), and they do get much bigger than the average rat - they weigh around a kilo! We've never lost a rat to a landmine - although they're large, they're still too light to set one off. Thanks for your support!
@camelsamul We use operant conditioning at our headquarters to train our rats to detect scents in one of three disciplines: landmine detection, tuberculosis detection, or remote scent tracing (RST) research. Once trained on a target scent, the rats learn to indicate its presence by scratching or sniffing at the ground or hole. Check out apopo.org to learn more about how we train our HeroRATs.
Awesome.. I had a pet rat when I was a kid that knew all sorts of trick, I swear he was cleverer than some dogs that I've had! It's a great idea to use thier intelligence to help save lives.
1:10 < So did the rat detect a mine there? Also, what about ground penetrating radar? We detect oil and gas deposits miles underground. Why is it such a big deal to detect mines?
@RandallFaraday We've never lost a rat to a landmine - they're much too light to set one off! Our HeroRATs actually indicate that they've detected the scent of a landmine simply by scratching at the ground.
Well I have read some stuff about this rats and if my information was´nt wrong, these rats could easily become 7 or 8 years old. The training lasts about ten months, so there are at last six and a half years for the rat to work. And youre beloved mine detectors are also detecting nails and such stuff, while the rats are trained to recognize explosives. They are cheaper than dogs and could work with more people than dogs because they are embossed by theyre trainer. and they are cute^^
@nederviking78 Well, there are also conventional methods for clearing those kind of mines or booby traps. Burn the area for example, like the Chinese did on the borders with Vietnam during 80ties...
Another thing which i really don`t like here is the closeness of those rat trainers to the potential mine which the rat starts to dig out... The potential blast effect is seriously beeing underestimated here by those two persons...
This is amazing! & to think of all the lives and limbs it will save! Landmines are horrible and it's especially horrible to see children who have been injured and maimed from old landmines. Nice to see that people are doing something like this! Who cares if its weird as long as it works!
@dogdays730 Our rats are wearing a harness attached to the trainers which would deter predators. We have never had an instance of a hawk or predator attacking a rat or human.
@sk8r2000 In order for our HeroRAT team to be able to safely identify and remove the landmines, we need both our rats and our trained staff to work with them. Our method has many benefits. The internationally accepted standard to clear 1 square meter (sqm) of land is $2. Using our rats and humans, we can clear that in $1.18. Also, two men using mine detectors, will clear 200 sqm in 8 hours. The same two men using our HeroRATs can clear 200 sqm in 1.5 hours.
@nybombs We love our HeroRATs and would never put them in danger. Our rats weigh on average 1.5 kilograms (about 4lbs) and our largest rat weighed 1.8 kilograms. It takes approximately 5 kilograms (about 11lbs) of pressure to set off a landmine. So not to worry, our rats are safe. If a human steps on a landmine, they can be maimed or killed. However, our staff follows a number of safety procedures and protocols in order to ensure their safety.
@apopovideos I'm just wondering that the lines must have some safety zone already cleared so there are definitely no mines within the safe distance of the marker lines that the men stand behind.
@apopovideos altough i support your efforts in clearing minefields at least with rats, i still believe that a man with a mine detector is much more efficient for this job.
A rat needs training, rat trainers need training, and rat doesnt live for long...
@84porca from the sounds of it, you're dismissing something out of hand that has been put into practice at significantly less than the cost of operating a mine detector. Are you saying you don't believe they can do it for that price?
@apopovideos Does anyone else think it's such a shame that the monetary cost of clearing mines and therefore saving lives and the maiming of fellow people always seems to be one of, if not the most important issues? I guess it shows up the different values certain governments put on other lives around the world.
Amazing work your doing guys, may you have no injuries.
Not if you get the rat to clear a straight line path on each side, or find some other way to create two lanes. Then just grid the area between them. Seems pretty brilliant to me.
@sk8r2000 no not really, it allows them to map the minefield with the locations of the mines so they can be safely disarmed, that's the whole point of this. The rat is used because it's too light to set them off, unlike humans or most dogs.
@dogdays730 We love our HeroRATs and would never put them in danger. Our rats weigh on average 1.5 kilograms (about 4lbs) and our largest rat weighed 1.8 kilograms. It takes approximately 5 kilograms (about 11lbs) of pressure to set off a landmine. So not to worry, our rats are safe. This species of rat, Gambian Pouched Rat, also has a lot of other benefits. For more information, please go to our website.
@Spinnershockz In fact, he did not turn off the mine. That would be pretty incredible! Rather, he scratched at the ground to indicate the presence of TNT, the explosive compound that is present in all landmines.
@Onkelbenz123 No. We train our rats to indicate the presence of TNT. Our Heroes are too light to set off a landmine (they weigh approximately 1.5 kilos and it takes about 5 kilos to detonate a landmine). They indicate to our staff the location of a landmine and our humans deactivate the landmine.
@iliauk1 Thanks for your question. Our African giant pouched rats are a local species to sub-Saharan Africa where we are currently operating therefore do not need much adjustment to different climates and environments. We have not looked into using the degus as it is endemic to Chile in South America.
@Totalxdramaxsuperfan Thanks for your support. HeroRATs is a name used to promote our work. We chose the name because they are both Heroes and Rats. RATs is capitalized to emphasize the fact that they are rats.
@TheMikkelet To see more videos of our Heroes in action, please look at our other videos available on YouTube, as well as those available on our webpage.
@LaxPlaya84097 We have actually managed to get the training of our HeroRATs down to under 9 months! And, our rats actually work faster than manual deminers with metal detectors.
@shoponline831 Our HeroRATs are Giant African Pouched Rats, of the species 'Cricetomys gambianus'. Although they may not look like the more common variety of rats, they are, in fact rats and card-carrying members of the rodent community.
@apopovideos According to wikipedia: Giant pouched rats are only distantly related to the true rats, but are instead part of an ancient radiation of African and Malagasy muroids in the family Nesomyidae.
@shepherdbaba Our HeroRATs are Giant African Pouched Rats, of the species 'Cricetomys gambianus'. Although they may not look like the more common variety of rats, they are, in fact card-carrying members of the rodent community. They are of the class "Mammalia" and order "Rodentia" and family "Nesomyidae".
@StinkadoodlePie yes in the real minefield our HeroRATs walk along a rope line between two trainers, as this way we can systematically ensure that all the ground is covered (without the rat getting distracted by a smell in a different area, and losing where they were up to in the box they are screening!)
@EvilEmoPixie Thanks for your support! Our HeroRATs weigh, on average, 1.5 kilos. The most one of our rats has ever weighed is 1.8 kilos - much too light to set off a landmine! So not to worry, our HeroRATs are safe!
The rats aren't actually in danger- they're too light to set off the mines. They're cheaper than robots, won't let off the mines like sniffer dogs will, and eat less than dogs.
@cdoftx Thanks for your questions! So far, our HeroRATs have never missed a mine! We follow all IMS standards which states that 2 animals (dog or rat or ?)must check each 5 x 20 meter box.
@bestamerica@bestamerica, In the 10 years we have been working, we have never had a rat set off a landmine. While you are entitled to your opinion, we want to reassure everyone that our rats and human staff are not hurt in anyway during our de-mining operations.
We are currently in Mozambique clearing the land of the landmines that were left from the country's civil war. For more information, please go to our website.
@bestamerica We value and love our rats too much to let them die! Our Heroes are too light to set off a landmine (they weigh approximately 1.5 kilos and it takes about 5 kilos to detonate a landmine). They indicate to our staff the location of a landmine and our humans deactivate the landmine. Our rats are very well taken care of and see a veterinarian once a week to ensure they are in good health. Robots are expensive and we provide an inexpensive resource to help solve the landmine problem.
@bestamerica besides, you realize that they arent using the rat THAT way, if the mine went off because the rat stepped on it both guys there would be dead
@XxstryaexX1 Rats have long been considered a pest and have been given a bad reputation, but our humanitarian rats are working to change this! It is our hope that by using this adorable local resource, not only can we fight TB and landmines, but we can support the local community by using a local resource to help solve global issues as well as providing them with a source of income for their families.
@kurt2552 Considering that it was the fault of humans, and not rats, that the damned land mines are there in the first place, I am inclined to agree with you.
@M0US3P0T4TO It is our hope that neither the rats nor the people blow up! Our staff goes through numerous safety protocols to protect them and the rats in order to clear up land for the villagers to return safely to their homes.
@Mrgyn Thanks! We are proud of the fact that not only do we save life and limbs, but we also help solve a problem using local resources and people. Thanks for your support!
@uhavemooface perhaps it is different to the rats you have seen in the past, but it is indeed a rat! The species is we work with is called the Cricetomys gambianus or African Giant Pouched Rat, indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa.
@bc71766 - actually our rats are too light to set off the mines, which is part of the reason they have been selected for the job! Our HeroRATs are very intelligent and well-trained creatures, and will simply scratch at the ground to indicate they have found the TNT scent present in landmines.
@jusgus85 thanks for your comment and interest in our work! In answer to your question, for comparison: two men with metal detectors can clear on average 200 square meters in an eight-hour day. The same two men using APOPO’s mine detection rats can clear the same area in an hour and a half.
To give you an idea of clearance figures, in 2010 we have already cleared more than 183,640 square meters in Mozambique's Gaza Province - finding 92 landmines and 23 explosive remnants of war!
What a beautiful rat. I'd love to have one that big that I could cuddle. |D They're probably not sold as pets (let alone legal) in the states, are they?
@SaritaWolf - Indeed the HeroRATs are beautiful, intelligent creatures! But yes, I think there are currently restrictions on the African Giant Pouched Rat being imported into the US. The next best thing you can do is to adopt a HeroRAT on our website! (Although we can only offer 'virtual' cuddles at this stage, unless you would like to visit us in Tanzania!)
@SaritaWolf I've seen a few videos on YouTube featuring these overgrown and adorable ratties and I have heard that they are currently banned in the US and I have also heard that the ban has been lifted - so I'll be damned if I know which is correct and I don't relish the thought of navigating some government agencies website to find the answer. I'd bet more money than I have that they are an expensive purchase either way.
@megatwingo you are most welcome! Glad you enjoyed it. For more clips of our heroes in action, please take a look at the media section of the herorat website...
@mrzack888 - actually we've never had a case where a rat has been injured by a landmine...they are too light to set off the mines, one of the reasons they were selected for the job in the first place :o) combined with the fact that they a cost-effective and efficient landmine detection option for developing countries.
@anotherelvis - good question! In Mozambique we use a three-tiered approach: bush cutters clear vegetation from the area, allowing access for manual deminers to enter the minefield and prepare safe lanes (for our rat-handlers to walk in) and boxes for the mine detection rats (official HeroRAT name in the minefield) to search. The locations that are indicated by the rats are then followed up by manual deminers, who neutralize and remove the mines.
@apopovideos Thank you for the answer and for a great video, but I have more questions. You say that the bush cutters have to remove some vegetation before the rats can enter. How do these bush cutters protect themselves? Whould it be possible to remove the vegetation by setting fire to all the vegetation?
@anotherelvis - another good question. The bush cutter is armoured so that it can withstand the impact of a mine explosion while keeping the driver inside safe. Think of it like a tractor with tank protection...
@anotherelvis Your suggestion to use fire is also well thought. But fire wouldn't necessarily burn everything to an ash standpoint so the ground would be clear, there would likely still be tree branches etc that still remain. Additionally we work in a very hot and dry area so doing a controlled burn around the area, while likely possible, if it went array could wipe out crops in the surrounding area that could wipe out a farmer's livelihood.
Actually the rat is too small and light to set off a landmine, unlike a dog which is still big enough to set one off. The rat simply sniffs out a mine and scratches the earth the mine is buried under to show where it is.
@sivrel is indeed correct...the African Giant Pouched Rat generally weighs about 1.5 to 2kg, while it takes about 5kg to set off a landmine. The rats run along a line between two handlers, and when they smell the TNT they have been trained to locate, they sniff and scratch at the surface. In training, this action is reinforced with a 'click' sound which is followed by a food reward. So the rats come to know that when they indicate on the TNT smell, they will be fed :o)
It is said that the rats are too light to trigger off the land mines. So they remain safe, and once they detect a land mine, they will start to dig the ground. So that enables the trainer to identify the possible location of a land mine, and maybe make arrangements for other people to detonate the mine.
Thanks Jimmy, you are right. The rat identifies the possible location of the mine, the trainer then indicates the area to be searched and then our explosives team is brought in to locate the exact position and detonate the mine. They are fully trained in mine removal and safety procedures are in place to care for the safety of the team. To date we have not had any accidents- because our team follows the protocol and looks out for each other.
Every 20 minutes, someone is hurt or killed by a landmine and every second, someone new contracts Tuberculosis. These are daunting numbers, but a local, cheap, and efficient solution exists: HeroRATS! One HeroRAT can clear 100 square meters of a landmine field in 30 minutes;that is the equivalent of two days work for a manual deminer. Another can evaluate 40 TB samples in 7 minutes, equal to what a skilled lab technician, will do in two days! 5€ per month is all it takes to adopt a HeroRAT!
Yeah, they're too light to set off landmines so they're actually completely safe the entire time. The rats don't seem to find it cruel since they're rewarded with food every time, so I guess it's really no more "cruel" than maintaining a job somewhere.
What would be really cruel would be to leave the landmines there an let some kid get their arm blown off. The rats aren't hurt by their trainers, they're to light to set of the landmines.
how much is one i wanna order on internet what credit card do you accept?
MaxFlared 3 months ago
oh i love rats! they are so smart.. can you please tell me what type of rat is this? because my pet rats don't get this big. i want that rat! .. and good job with your work, i know people are afraid the rats will be injured, but it's no different than bomb sniffing dogs. good job!
fetishdiva1 5 months ago
@fetishdiva1 We train African giant pouched rats (or Gambian pouched rats), and they do get much bigger than the average rat - they weigh around a kilo! We've never lost a rat to a landmine - although they're large, they're still too light to set one off. Thanks for your support!
apopovideos 5 months ago
@fetishdiva1 I agree
Tyannalyn 5 months ago
how exactly does it work?
camelsamul 6 months ago
@camelsamul We use operant conditioning at our headquarters to train our rats to detect scents in one of three disciplines: landmine detection, tuberculosis detection, or remote scent tracing (RST) research. Once trained on a target scent, the rats learn to indicate its presence by scratching or sniffing at the ground or hole. Check out apopo.org to learn more about how we train our HeroRATs.
apopovideos 6 months ago
@apopovideos ok
camelsamul 6 months ago
maybe one day, i am detecting landmines too...
PanORotta 6 months ago
NOTE TO Sk8tr2000: It's a TRAINING lesson. GET IT? Just stick to asphalt bro.
CircleJRanch 6 months ago
Awesome.. I had a pet rat when I was a kid that knew all sorts of trick, I swear he was cleverer than some dogs that I've had! It's a great idea to use thier intelligence to help save lives.
bored0stiff 6 months ago
Where can i get a pet rat that big lol =D
MrLostkause 6 months ago
That rat is as big as my Chihuahua!! Aww.. God makes no mistakes and these creatures deserve more credit for their ability to save lives.
Nbrito06 7 months ago
Comment removed
devilorgod 8 months ago
i tought they let them walk over a mine to make it explode XD
Cqub3 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
these top comments are jokes right?
CallmeMell 8 months ago
1:10 < So did the rat detect a mine there? Also, what about ground penetrating radar? We detect oil and gas deposits miles underground. Why is it such a big deal to detect mines?
michaelrose93 8 months ago
So... when the rat goes BOOOOOOMMMMM, it has detected a landmine?!
RandallFaraday 9 months ago
@RandallFaraday We've never lost a rat to a landmine - they're much too light to set one off! Our HeroRATs actually indicate that they've detected the scent of a landmine simply by scratching at the ground.
apopovideos 5 months ago
Well I have read some stuff about this rats and if my information was´nt wrong, these rats could easily become 7 or 8 years old. The training lasts about ten months, so there are at last six and a half years for the rat to work. And youre beloved mine detectors are also detecting nails and such stuff, while the rats are trained to recognize explosives. They are cheaper than dogs and could work with more people than dogs because they are embossed by theyre trainer. and they are cute^^
Go on Rats!
lollipopForDinner 9 months ago
@nederviking78 Well, there are also conventional methods for clearing those kind of mines or booby traps. Burn the area for example, like the Chinese did on the borders with Vietnam during 80ties...
Another thing which i really don`t like here is the closeness of those rat trainers to the potential mine which the rat starts to dig out... The potential blast effect is seriously beeing underestimated here by those two persons...
84porca 10 months ago
good job
boitahaki 10 months ago
woah! thats one big ass rat. i want one of em as a pet now!
Dracos1337 10 months ago
Looks like a painfully slow process, but great effort!
JiminyKracker 10 months ago
Cracked.
philsense 10 months ago 3
you are doing a great job. keep up the good work
airborne101st45 10 months ago
Look at the SIZE of that thing! DAMN nature, YOU SCARY!
KairuHakubi 10 months ago
@KairuHakubi Capybara
MyTemporaryAccount88 10 months ago
That rat is huge! And tasty looking.
TheXand19 10 months ago
This is amazing! & to think of all the lives and limbs it will save! Landmines are horrible and it's especially horrible to see children who have been injured and maimed from old landmines. Nice to see that people are doing something like this! Who cares if its weird as long as it works!
sameltoes 10 months ago 3
@nederviking78
Average Ratus Ratus or Norvegicus.....1 foot.......
Gambian (African) Pouch Rat......3 feet.
0.0
AceofDlamonds 10 months ago
@dogdays730 Our rats are wearing a harness attached to the trainers which would deter predators. We have never had an instance of a hawk or predator attacking a rat or human.
apopovideos 11 months ago
If a person steps on a mine that the rat missed he doesn't get any cheese that day.
9pt9 1 year ago
@babykillingspree your a jerk rats r very sweet animals and u should be nicer to them
MewPudding321 1 year ago
awwwwwwww hes pulling his neck :O
xmissabiix13 1 year ago
Wait, hold on... there has to be a person on each side of the minefield holding ropes? My next question, isn't this pretty pointless?
sk8r2000 1 year ago
@sk8r2000 In order for our HeroRAT team to be able to safely identify and remove the landmines, we need both our rats and our trained staff to work with them. Our method has many benefits. The internationally accepted standard to clear 1 square meter (sqm) of land is $2. Using our rats and humans, we can clear that in $1.18. Also, two men using mine detectors, will clear 200 sqm in 8 hours. The same two men using our HeroRATs can clear 200 sqm in 1.5 hours.
apopovideos 1 year ago 23
@apopovideos is there any possibility that a landmine would explode if the rat steps on it? Wouldn't it kill the staff as well?
nybombs 11 months ago
@nybombs We love our HeroRATs and would never put them in danger. Our rats weigh on average 1.5 kilograms (about 4lbs) and our largest rat weighed 1.8 kilograms. It takes approximately 5 kilograms (about 11lbs) of pressure to set off a landmine. So not to worry, our rats are safe. If a human steps on a landmine, they can be maimed or killed. However, our staff follows a number of safety procedures and protocols in order to ensure their safety.
apopovideos 11 months ago 13
@apopovideos I'm just wondering that the lines must have some safety zone already cleared so there are definitely no mines within the safe distance of the marker lines that the men stand behind.
ogicabp4u 6 months ago
@apopovideos altough i support your efforts in clearing minefields at least with rats, i still believe that a man with a mine detector is much more efficient for this job.
A rat needs training, rat trainers need training, and rat doesnt live for long...
84porca 10 months ago
@84porca from the sounds of it, you're dismissing something out of hand that has been put into practice at significantly less than the cost of operating a mine detector. Are you saying you don't believe they can do it for that price?
TheRealMarauder 8 months ago
@apopovideos Does anyone else think it's such a shame that the monetary cost of clearing mines and therefore saving lives and the maiming of fellow people always seems to be one of, if not the most important issues? I guess it shows up the different values certain governments put on other lives around the world.
Amazing work your doing guys, may you have no injuries.
C0ckneyReject 9 months ago
@sk8r2000
Not if you get the rat to clear a straight line path on each side, or find some other way to create two lanes. Then just grid the area between them. Seems pretty brilliant to me.
SashaKuroi 8 months ago
@sk8r2000 no not really, it allows them to map the minefield with the locations of the mines so they can be safely disarmed, that's the whole point of this. The rat is used because it's too light to set them off, unlike humans or most dogs.
thewr0ngchild 7 months ago
Guess we finally found a solution for all those former war zones, good job.
sangwria 1 year ago
thats a big rat
toastyfighters23 1 year ago
@dogdays730 We love our HeroRATs and would never put them in danger. Our rats weigh on average 1.5 kilograms (about 4lbs) and our largest rat weighed 1.8 kilograms. It takes approximately 5 kilograms (about 11lbs) of pressure to set off a landmine. So not to worry, our rats are safe. This species of rat, Gambian Pouched Rat, also has a lot of other benefits. For more information, please go to our website.
apopovideos 1 year ago 2
Amazing!
DinosaursOnceRuled 1 year ago
@dogdays730 I love rats. I used to breed and train them. They're very smart, very loyal, and friend friendly.
RezViper 1 year ago
This is an amazing Idea I heard about it from my geography teacher and I just had to look it up I 100 percent support heroRATs!!!
MegaJacobblackfan 1 year ago
geez that's a huge rat!
RezViper 1 year ago
That's friggin awesome. Rats people! They're effin HEROES!
GakkiSai 1 year ago
@Spinnershockz In fact, he did not turn off the mine. That would be pretty incredible! Rather, he scratched at the ground to indicate the presence of TNT, the explosive compound that is present in all landmines.
apopovideos 1 year ago
Nothing exploded?
Onkelbenz123 1 year ago
@Onkelbenz123 No. We train our rats to indicate the presence of TNT. Our Heroes are too light to set off a landmine (they weigh approximately 1.5 kilos and it takes about 5 kilos to detonate a landmine). They indicate to our staff the location of a landmine and our humans deactivate the landmine.
apopovideos 1 year ago 7
Amazing!
michmcc68 1 year ago
i'm sure working together with cute animals also improves the mood of the people working in this dangerous job.
mushnoodle 1 year ago
@mushnoodle We can't resist smiling when we look at our furry colleagues!
apopovideos 1 year ago
Wow this is amazing. Have you considered using degus instead of rats or are the rats more intelligent?
iliauk1 1 year ago
@iliauk1 Thanks for your question. Our African giant pouched rats are a local species to sub-Saharan Africa where we are currently operating therefore do not need much adjustment to different climates and environments. We have not looked into using the degus as it is endemic to Chile in South America.
apopovideos 1 year ago
BOOM!
MatthewCanSeeYou 1 year ago 2
wow, thats really good idea, a safe and cheap solution to your problem, I just love it!
By the way, why do you call them HeroRATS, I understand the hero, but why capitalize the "rats" part. does it stand for something?
Totalxdramaxsuperfan 1 year ago
@Totalxdramaxsuperfan Thanks for your support. HeroRATs is a name used to promote our work. We chose the name because they are both Heroes and Rats. RATs is capitalized to emphasize the fact that they are rats.
apopovideos 1 year ago
Can you show a video of where they actually find a mine? And maybe how you dig it up or something? :)
TheMikkelet 1 year ago
@TheMikkelet To see more videos of our Heroes in action, please look at our other videos available on YouTube, as well as those available on our webpage.
apopovideos 1 year ago
I think that is awsome what you guys are doing! Rats are so smart!
Sweden8990 1 year ago
@Sweden8990 Thanks so much for your support! We really appreciate it!
apopovideos 1 year ago
That must take soooo long.
LaxPlaya84097 1 year ago
@LaxPlaya84097 We have actually managed to get the training of our HeroRATs down to under 9 months! And, our rats actually work faster than manual deminers with metal detectors.
apopovideos 1 year ago
good job!!!
kennit4 1 year ago
these aren't true rats as far as i know. i think they're something else
shoponline831 1 year ago
@shoponline831 Our HeroRATs are Giant African Pouched Rats, of the species 'Cricetomys gambianus'. Although they may not look like the more common variety of rats, they are, in fact rats and card-carrying members of the rodent community.
apopovideos 1 year ago
@apopovideos According to wikipedia: Giant pouched rats are only distantly related to the true rats, but are instead part of an ancient radiation of African and Malagasy muroids in the family Nesomyidae.
shepherdbaba 1 year ago
@shepherdbaba Our HeroRATs are Giant African Pouched Rats, of the species 'Cricetomys gambianus'. Although they may not look like the more common variety of rats, they are, in fact card-carrying members of the rodent community. They are of the class "Mammalia" and order "Rodentia" and family "Nesomyidae".
apopovideos 1 year ago
That's cool, glad to hear they're too light to set of a mine. I was worried about that when I first saw this.
SkyOne1111 1 year ago
Do you always use the ropes, or do the rats learn to walk in lines without them?
StinkadoodlePie 1 year ago
@StinkadoodlePie yes in the real minefield our HeroRATs walk along a rope line between two trainers, as this way we can systematically ensure that all the ground is covered (without the rat getting distracted by a smell in a different area, and losing where they were up to in the box they are screening!)
apopovideos 1 year ago
wooow ... that's RATZILLA :)) sweet!
partyboy174 1 year ago
@EvilEmoPixie Thanks for your support! Our HeroRATs weigh, on average, 1.5 kilos. The most one of our rats has ever weighed is 1.8 kilos - much too light to set off a landmine! So not to worry, our HeroRATs are safe!
apopovideos 1 year ago 3
And here I was hoping for an explosion!
esideras 1 year ago
The rats aren't actually in danger- they're too light to set off the mines. They're cheaper than robots, won't let off the mines like sniffer dogs will, and eat less than dogs.
Erinwolfrus 1 year ago
i want one of those rats!
SquareRootOfPoop 1 year ago
How well do the rats work? Do they ever not notice mines that are there?
cdoftx 1 year ago
@cdoftx Thanks for your questions! So far, our HeroRATs have never missed a mine! We follow all IMS standards which states that 2 animals (dog or rat or ?)must check each 5 x 20 meter box.
apopovideos 1 year ago
AWESOME!!!!
bitobonnie 1 year ago
wht hapens when your in a forest duse the pole bend if not you should take that into acount a flex thing maby like the bede sraw joints
TheParodiemaster 1 year ago
trolley rat sappin mah minez
B1SCOOP 1 year ago
thank you for your services! this is just amazing. and as a high school student interested in animal behavior, i find this very inspiring.
HarryPotterAndCo 1 year ago
'
rat is a innocent,,,
why not use a remote control robotic with metal detective,,,
dont let rat die after bomb
bestamerica 1 year ago
@bestamerica They're too light to set off the mines.
CatMaster87932 1 year ago 2
CatMaster87932,
'
yes rat is too light but innocent die,,,
better use a light weight robotic and save rat / person alive
bestamerica 1 year ago
@bestamerica @bestamerica, In the 10 years we have been working, we have never had a rat set off a landmine. While you are entitled to your opinion, we want to reassure everyone that our rats and human staff are not hurt in anyway during our de-mining operations.
We are currently in Mozambique clearing the land of the landmines that were left from the country's civil war. For more information, please go to our website.
apopovideos 1 year ago 33
apopovideos,
'
wow thank for explain,,,
the landmine bomb is still work in the ground over 35 years,,,
landmine bomb is no battery, no rust, waterproof, and weatherproof
bestamerica 1 year ago
@bestamerica I think rats are an more good and not so expensive solution. Good job!
formidabilus 1 year ago
@bestamerica We value and love our rats too much to let them die! Our Heroes are too light to set off a landmine (they weigh approximately 1.5 kilos and it takes about 5 kilos to detonate a landmine). They indicate to our staff the location of a landmine and our humans deactivate the landmine. Our rats are very well taken care of and see a veterinarian once a week to ensure they are in good health. Robots are expensive and we provide an inexpensive resource to help solve the landmine problem.
apopovideos 1 year ago 45
apopovideos,
'
okay thank for explain,,,
1 - who did put landmine bomb in the ground,,,
2 - who working for,,,
3 - what country make landmine bomb,,,
4 - why worry about currency for robot
bestamerica 1 year ago
@apopovideos You're a very good person and I think that when you die you will go straight to heaven.
JohnnyBoyCali 1 year ago 2
@bestamerica because they are poor, probably
Zodiamaster 1 year ago
Zodiamaster,
'
okay thank,,,
yes i see that people in this country is a poor
bestamerica 1 year ago
@bestamerica besides, you realize that they arent using the rat THAT way, if the mine went off because the rat stepped on it both guys there would be dead
Zodiamaster 1 year ago
Zodiamaster,
'
better use a robotic and save a person alive
bestamerica 1 year ago
@bestamerica idiot
airborne101st45 10 months ago 3
Next we should train rats to form an elite conspiracy against the right wing!!!!!!!
TbasketballG 1 year ago 2
@hugekid21 We will! It is all worth it to help our human counter-parts (and for the delicious bananas).
apopovideos 1 year ago
That's amazing, they need to bring these guys in other mine filled countries as well!
ricadrew 1 year ago
@ricadrew We agree! We are working to expand our operations to Angola and the DRC in the near future. Thanks for the support!
apopovideos 1 year ago
my grammy told me about this
Sford0dude5 1 year ago
maybe those people who kill rats will find a job selling them
XxstryaexX1 1 year ago
@XxstryaexX1 Rats have long been considered a pest and have been given a bad reputation, but our humanitarian rats are working to change this! It is our hope that by using this adorable local resource, not only can we fight TB and landmines, but we can support the local community by using a local resource to help solve global issues as well as providing them with a source of income for their families.
apopovideos 1 year ago
I'd honestly rather have a person explode than a cute little rat.
kurt2552 1 year ago
@kurt2552 Considering that it was the fault of humans, and not rats, that the damned land mines are there in the first place, I am inclined to agree with you.
M0US3P0T4TO 1 year ago
@M0US3P0T4TO It is our hope that neither the rats nor the people blow up! Our staff goes through numerous safety protocols to protect them and the rats in order to clear up land for the villagers to return safely to their homes.
apopovideos 1 year ago
@apopovideos
Thank you for all you do to help remove these landmines and also doing it in a matter that prevents human loss.
Mrgyn 1 year ago
@Mrgyn Thanks! We are proud of the fact that not only do we save life and limbs, but we also help solve a problem using local resources and people. Thanks for your support!
apopovideos 1 year ago
@M0US3P0T4TO not the fault of the civilians living there though...
best is if the people who dropped them there would have to search for the mines ._.
mushnoodle 1 year ago
@mushnoodle Precisely. Finally, somebody gets it!
M0US3P0T4TO 1 year ago
do you have a dvd of all this cause that would be so cool
TheLilScarab 1 year ago
yay for awesome rats the save peoples!!!!! my pet rat Maui and I say keep up the great work!
TheLilScarab 1 year ago
@TheLilScarab Thanks! We will!
apopovideos 1 year ago
wow these guys are perfect cute, and they save lives!
idk2say 1 year ago
that's awesome!
nerdelicious5 1 year ago
I have two rats, not pouch rats though. I love rats, they're the best!
CatMaster87932 1 year ago
@CatMaster87932 We think so too!
apopovideos 1 year ago
that is not a rat.
uhavemooface 1 year ago
@uhavemooface perhaps it is different to the rats you have seen in the past, but it is indeed a rat! The species is we work with is called the Cricetomys gambianus or African Giant Pouched Rat, indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa.
apopovideos 1 year ago
@uhavemooface That is not a rat like you are not a person.
M0US3P0T4TO 1 year ago
hey! i have seen this on TV!
Scheep194 1 year ago
@Scheep194 great to hear! We hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about our HeroRATs and the work they are doing in landmine and disease detection.
apopovideos 1 year ago
very interesting video ... and does rats are huge
moonhorse100 1 year ago
if the rat blows up then you know there is a mine
bc71766 1 year ago
@bc71766 - actually our rats are too light to set off the mines, which is part of the reason they have been selected for the job! Our HeroRATs are very intelligent and well-trained creatures, and will simply scratch at the ground to indicate they have found the TNT scent present in landmines.
apopovideos 1 year ago
Awesome video and awesome idea. I'm just glad no people or rats where hurt during the short clip. Do they clear a lot of mines in a days time?
jusgus85 1 year ago
@jusgus85 thanks for your comment and interest in our work! In answer to your question, for comparison: two men with metal detectors can clear on average 200 square meters in an eight-hour day. The same two men using APOPO’s mine detection rats can clear the same area in an hour and a half.
To give you an idea of clearance figures, in 2010 we have already cleared more than 183,640 square meters in Mozambique's Gaza Province - finding 92 landmines and 23 explosive remnants of war!
apopovideos 1 year ago
This is fucking cool...
Seriously, go rats!!
FrauleinLuft 1 year ago
What a beautiful rat. I'd love to have one that big that I could cuddle. |D They're probably not sold as pets (let alone legal) in the states, are they?
SaritaWolf 1 year ago
@SaritaWolf - Indeed the HeroRATs are beautiful, intelligent creatures! But yes, I think there are currently restrictions on the African Giant Pouched Rat being imported into the US. The next best thing you can do is to adopt a HeroRAT on our website! (Although we can only offer 'virtual' cuddles at this stage, unless you would like to visit us in Tanzania!)
apopovideos 1 year ago
@SaritaWolf I've seen a few videos on YouTube featuring these overgrown and adorable ratties and I have heard that they are currently banned in the US and I have also heard that the ban has been lifted - so I'll be damned if I know which is correct and I don't relish the thought of navigating some government agencies website to find the answer. I'd bet more money than I have that they are an expensive purchase either way.
M0US3P0T4TO 1 year ago
Thanks for uploading the video!
megatwingo 1 year ago
@megatwingo you are most welcome! Glad you enjoyed it. For more clips of our heroes in action, please take a look at the media section of the herorat website...
apopovideos 1 year ago
Ratatouille!
agent7788 1 year ago
i was waiting the whole time for it to step on a mine and explode.
mrzack888 1 year ago
those rats dont weigh anough to detonate a landmine
nickgor12 1 year ago
@mrzack888 - actually we've never had a case where a rat has been injured by a landmine...they are too light to set off the mines, one of the reasons they were selected for the job in the first place :o) combined with the fact that they a cost-effective and efficient landmine detection option for developing countries.
apopovideos 1 year ago
Great video, but how do they clear the paths of land where the humans have to stand?
anotherelvis 1 year ago
@anotherelvis - good question! In Mozambique we use a three-tiered approach: bush cutters clear vegetation from the area, allowing access for manual deminers to enter the minefield and prepare safe lanes (for our rat-handlers to walk in) and boxes for the mine detection rats (official HeroRAT name in the minefield) to search. The locations that are indicated by the rats are then followed up by manual deminers, who neutralize and remove the mines.
apopovideos 1 year ago
@apopovideos Thank you for the answer and for a great video, but I have more questions. You say that the bush cutters have to remove some vegetation before the rats can enter. How do these bush cutters protect themselves? Whould it be possible to remove the vegetation by setting fire to all the vegetation?
anotherelvis 1 year ago
@anotherelvis - another good question. The bush cutter is armoured so that it can withstand the impact of a mine explosion while keeping the driver inside safe. Think of it like a tractor with tank protection...
apopovideos 1 year ago
@anotherelvis Your suggestion to use fire is also well thought. But fire wouldn't necessarily burn everything to an ash standpoint so the ground would be clear, there would likely still be tree branches etc that still remain. Additionally we work in a very hot and dry area so doing a controlled burn around the area, while likely possible, if it went array could wipe out crops in the surrounding area that could wipe out a farmer's livelihood.
apopovideos 1 year ago
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im surprised they haven't eaten it yet.
immuki 1 year ago
yea this is a rat with pride
lgx22 1 year ago 6
hamsters=30 dollars
rats/mice=like 50 cents each
gazzy11296 2 years ago
wow
devildriverlambofgod 2 years ago
How do the rats signal the handlers when they find a mine?
sompret 2 years ago
Perhaps it starts digging and then they pull it out out into safety.
anotherelvis 1 year ago
BEAUTIFUL RAT!!!
TheMenGsk 2 years ago 5
thats a big rat
JPBOY5 2 years ago
this is amazing!
mujkocka 2 years ago
Actually the rat is too small and light to set off a landmine, unlike a dog which is still big enough to set one off. The rat simply sniffs out a mine and scratches the earth the mine is buried under to show where it is.
sivrel 2 years ago
@sivrel is indeed correct...the African Giant Pouched Rat generally weighs about 1.5 to 2kg, while it takes about 5kg to set off a landmine. The rats run along a line between two handlers, and when they smell the TNT they have been trained to locate, they sniff and scratch at the surface. In training, this action is reinforced with a 'click' sound which is followed by a food reward. So the rats come to know that when they indicate on the TNT smell, they will be fed :o)
apopovideos 1 year ago
I was reading about this online one day, I think these herorats are a great idea. Keep up the awesome work guys and rats!
SumOneLikeMe 2 years ago 6
those are the cutest combat engineers ive ever seen
poopnscoop432 2 years ago 11
Wow. Rats with a purpose. Great idea.
motodome 2 years ago
It is said that the rats are too light to trigger off the land mines. So they remain safe, and once they detect a land mine, they will start to dig the ground. So that enables the trainer to identify the possible location of a land mine, and maybe make arrangements for other people to detonate the mine.
JimmyinChrist 2 years ago
Thanks Jimmy, you are right. The rat identifies the possible location of the mine, the trainer then indicates the area to be searched and then our explosives team is brought in to locate the exact position and detonate the mine. They are fully trained in mine removal and safety procedures are in place to care for the safety of the team. To date we have not had any accidents- because our team follows the protocol and looks out for each other.
apopovideos 2 years ago
Oh you good little creature!
manchester26m 2 years ago 2
Could use em in the desert to detect IEDs maybe?
Airborne80 2 years ago
Every 20 minutes, someone is hurt or killed by a landmine and every second, someone new contracts Tuberculosis. These are daunting numbers, but a local, cheap, and efficient solution exists: HeroRATS! One HeroRAT can clear 100 square meters of a landmine field in 30 minutes;that is the equivalent of two days work for a manual deminer. Another can evaluate 40 TB samples in 7 minutes, equal to what a skilled lab technician, will do in two days! 5€ per month is all it takes to adopt a HeroRAT!
limonare 2 years ago
Lets send the rats to Afghanistan to do a good job and find landmines !!
limonare 2 years ago
I like rats...
delbiolima 2 years ago 4
finally found a good use for rats
texasman75147 2 years ago 3
omg... I WANT ONE!!!!!
daphnener 2 years ago
They don't blow up, they're too light.
Scythemantis 2 years ago 2
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cruel? tell that to china man. mmmm, so delicious, ya, ya. good good.
eltigre911 2 years ago
lol..whatever next otter's that fish for people now rat's that find mines..send'em to afghanistan
robadoo2 2 years ago
Yeah, they're too light to set off landmines so they're actually completely safe the entire time. The rats don't seem to find it cruel since they're rewarded with food every time, so I guess it's really no more "cruel" than maintaining a job somewhere.
syntaxcrisis 2 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
cruel..
MrPC1337 2 years ago
What would be really cruel would be to leave the landmines there an let some kid get their arm blown off. The rats aren't hurt by their trainers, they're to light to set of the landmines.
SupraJulie 2 years ago 12
they use them because theyre so small they dont set off land mines...