Rats With Tiny Backpacks Could be the Answer for Earthquake Rescues
00:33 GMT 25.10.2022 (Updated: 10:42 GMT 21.04.2023)
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An unpopular rodent may have found a way to improve its reputation. Giant pouched rats are being trained by the Belgian nonprofit APOPO, which also trains dogs, to save human lives. The rats, nicknamed “HeroRATs” by the organization, have already been trained to detect landmines and tuberculosis, and are preparing for a new step in their career.
APOPO is now training these three pound rats to save even more lives. The nonprofit is outfitting the giant rats with small specialized backpacks that will help rescue teams talk to survivors of earthquakes. After being trained, the rats should be able to scurry through the rubble of a disaster zone following a hurricane or an earthquake in order to locate survivors.
Monday morning and we're back to work.
— APOPO (@herorats) October 3, 2022
Have a great start of the week everyone! 💙
📷 HeroRAT Ronin https://t.co/LfsS19XT88 pic.twitter.com/98H08m7fXL
“Rats are typically quite curious and like to explore––and that is key for search and rescue,” says Donna Kean, a behavioral research scientist and leader of the project.
The organization trains dogs and rats at its base in Tanzania, having first launched their project in April of 2021 following years in which they struggled to get adequate funding. The rats are currently being trained in a simulated disaster area in 15-minute sessions five days a week. It will take nine to 12 months to train each rat, according to Kean, before they’re able to get to work.
The rats carry with them homemade backpacks that have microphones, for now. When the rats have finished their training and are ready to get to work, they will be given backpacks outfitted with video equipment and a GPS device, which are being developed by APOPO with the help of Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands.
Rat handler Bahati and HeroRAT Carat hanging out in the shade of the Crape Myrtle Tree...
— APOPO (@herorats) October 8, 2022
Enjoy the outdoors and open spaces this weekend 💜 pic.twitter.com/MDAlyJKaNL
In the simulated practices, the rats find a trapped person, pull a switch on their vest that triggers a beeper, and then return to their handlers and receive a treat.
After they finish training the rats will be sent to work in Turkey with the organization GEA, which helped the organization find its footing in the search and rescue field. Turkey has had a large increase in the number of earthquakes it experiences annually. In 1990, it experienced just 344 earthquakes, while in 2021, that number reached 23,763, according to Statista.
For now, when the rats aren’t working, they’re kept with their siblings in kennels that are cleaned regularly, according to APOPO’s website. The rats are fed, played with and cared for by a staff of caretakers and are even given an outdoor enclosure where they can play.
Must. Eat. More. Banana. 🍌
— APOPO (@herorats) October 21, 2022
Happy #FullCheekFriday from Travis 🐭
Enjoy the weekend everyone! #helloweekend #herorats #fcf pic.twitter.com/A1PxnozJmY
