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Vendaval -> "Giant rats put noses to work on Africa's land mine epidemic" (9/8/2010 3:05:15 PM)
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I have kept rats as pets previously and am impressed with this new use for their abilities.
Giant rats put noses to work on Africa's land mine epidemic
By Eliott C. McLaughlin, CNN
September 8, 2010 8:40 a.m. EDT
"Upon study, the rats' advantages emerged.
Their olfactory senses are superb. They're native to Africa, so tropical disease is no problem, and they rarely weigh more than the 3 to 10 kilograms required to trip a mine, Bach said. It also helps that the mine-sniffing rats are not bonded to individual trainers or prone to ennui, as dogs are, he said.
"If you compare them to canine mine detectors, it's pretty much the same in terms of sensitivity and capability," Bach said, noting that dogs are better equipped to work in brush or high grass that might conceal a rat.
"Rats are not going to oust dogs in this industry, but it's a very positive complement," he added. "You could say they work for peanuts."
Indeed, said Weetjens, cost is especially an advantage in Africa. It takes limited skill and only six to eight months to train a rat -- or a year for the "slow" rats because "some rats are smarter than others," said trainer Mushi, who oversees 14 rats."
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/09/07/herorats.detect.landmines/index.html?hpt=C2
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