Hero Rats: landmine and tuberculosis detectors

Meet the Hero Rats who love to play hide and seek amongst landmines and unexploded bombs, and treasure hunt for positive TB samples. Apopo, a Belgian charity is harnessing the sociability, enthusiasm for repetitive tasks, love of bananas and acute sense of smell of the African Giant Pouched rat to uncover killers.

Working in Mozambique and Tanzania (with plans to establish operations in Colombia and South East Asia) Apopo has already cleared large areas of unexploded ordinance and detected TB in hundreds of samples missed by more costly conventional testing.

• Category

  Science & Technology

[Cheeseisgood222]

3:07 lol Obama and Michelle

[pyrovania]

Tuberculosis is caused a bacteria that grows in your lungs. The rats can probably identify the smell on the patient's breath.

[111JJP]

It's Silva from Skyfall!

[Dmagician45]

You realize that's the last name right?

[AxeWind]

what so you guys can enslave "Hero Rats" and its cool but its not cool to enslave black people? you are running thin lines africa

[asschun]

So it would be useless in extrapulmonary TB

[willshedo]

rats are extremely intelligent, as every pet rat owner will tell you. great they help here to save peoples (and mine dogs) lives

[Stormwitch2000]

I have supported Apopo for a few years now by giving just £5 each month. I feel Apopo is a very valuable organisation, obviously for humans but also for the rats, as their reputation as disgusting vermin may change over time. Rats are actually extremely intelligent, gentle and affectionate animals. After joining Apopo, I got 3 pet rats and I completely adore them :-)

[Orian Raz]

How much does a tuberculsis detecting rat would cost?

[Shamshubaridah Ramlee]

Innovative and creative way of helping the human race. At last there are some good in rats.

[Pan Disha]

WOW