Giant Rats Trained to Combat Wildlife Smuggling in Tanzania

Rats with exceptional olfactory abilities are being used to detect smuggled wildlife products and protect endangered species.

African giant pouched rats are being trained in Tanzania to sniff out illegal wildlife products like ivory and rhino horns.
The rats possess a highly developed sense of smell, allowing them to identify smuggled items even when hidden among other substances.
A study showed that trained rats could distinguish target scents from 146 non-target substances, demonstrating their potential effectiveness.
These rodents are already used for detecting landmines and tuberculosis, and their training for wildlife detection is a cost-effective alternative to current methods.
The next phase involves testing the rats' abilities in real-world conditions, such as ports, where they could signal discoveries using specially designed vests.