Rat detect land mines after special sniffing training

There's a saying about being able to smell a rat - but no longer. Now the much maligned rodent is turning the tables and is ratting out land mines.



Giant African pouched rats are being trained to identify the scent of explosives in landmines

They have an acute sense of smell and are small enough not to detonate the mines. Every time they detect TNT, they make a clicking sound and receive a bit of banana as a reward.

They are being trained by Belgian charity Apopo in Tanzania.

‘You have to be patient. Sometimes I get frustrated but then again I tell myself these are animals,’ said trainer Abdullah Mchomvu.

A team of two rats can clear a 200sq m (2,150sq ft) minefield in two hours rather than the day it takes humans.

Other rats are being trained to sniff out TB in laboratory sputum samples.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/846552-rats-detect-land-mines-after-special-sniffing-training#ixzz14nBrkOlq