Follow UK Investment Immigration and UK News: The UK recently assisted the small African nation of Mozambique in training a group of large rats, utilizing the olfactory senses of these small animals to help demining personnel locate landmines.
It is reported that these African giant pouched rats, also known as "Gambian rats," are large in size but weigh significantly less than a human, meaning they will not detonate a landmine when standing on one. Coupled with their keen sense of smell, the UK's "Department for International Development" has leveraged these characteristics to train them as "demining pioneers."
A spokesperson for the UK's "Department for International Development" stated that these giant rats are "ideal candidates" for demining work. Although they have poor eyesight, they possess an extremely keen sense of smell and are highly active. A trained rat can search an area fourteen times larger than a human deminer per day, and at a much lower cost.
According to reports, these giant rats have already assisted in clearing 2,500 landmines and over 4,000 unexploded ordnances in Mozambique.
