Sniffer rats!
Have you heard of sniffer dogs? They help police find hidden things like drugs or bombs. But guess what? Sniffer rats are now joining the team! These smart little animals can help stop people from stealing parts of endangered animals, like elephant tusks or rhino horns.
A study showed that African giant pouched rats are amazing! They can smell illegal animal products, even if they are hidden with things like peanuts or soap. Scientists in Tanzania trained these rats to recognise the smell of items like pangolin scales and rhino horns.
Advantages of using these rats.
Sniffer rats have some awesome skills:
Cheaper to Train: Training a rat costs less than training a dog.
Small and Light: They can fit into tiny spaces where dogs can’t go.
No Special Handler Needed: Any person can work with these rats.
Quick Learners: They learn fast and have a super nose for smells.
How were they trained?
First, the rats were taught to poke their noses into small holes. Then, they learnt to smell illegal items, like pangolin scales, and ignore other smells.
When a rat finds something, it pulls on a ball attached to its vest. This makes a beep to tell the human handler. As a reward, the rat gets a yummy snack!
About illegal wildlife trade.
Illegal animal trade is a big problem. People kill animals to sell their tusks, horns, or skins. This is very bad for endangered animals. Scientists hope that sniffer rats can help stop this and protect wildlife.
