These Giant Rats Save Lives and May Soon Stop Poachers

These Giant Rats Save Lives and May Soon Stop PoachersTop of Mind with Julie Rose • Season 1, Episode 846, Segment 6

Jul 2, 2018 • 14m

Guest: Kate Sears-Webb, Behavioral Research Technician, APOPO If I told you there was one tool that could clear landmines, detect tuberculosis, and catch poachers... would you believe that versatile tool was rats? APOPO is a global non-profit organization based in Tanzania that has pioneered the training-rats-to-save-lives thing. Their African pouched rats have cleared more than 100,000 landmines from former war zones and can screen mucus samples for tuberculosis way, way faster than traditional methods. Now the rats are being grained to find illegally trafficked African hardwoods and pangolins, which are scaly anteaters. Find more about APOPO's work by clicking here.

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