Tuesday, December 14, 2010

That's SOME rat!

Have you ever diagnosed tuberculosis?  Or found a landmine and stopped someone from stepping on it? Probably not.  But guess who has?

This rat.

A Dutch NGO in Tanzania trains rats to de-mine landmine fields. And surprisingly, the African giant pouched rats are also more adept at diagnosing tuberculosis (via sniffing techniques) than the readily available technology in the area.

The captive-born rats enjoy attention, including being petted and being taken on daily walks, and there are several outside pens where the rats can play and get used to an outside environment.

Read more in the FAQ and donate to the cause.