HERO RATS? YEP, THESE OVER SIZED RATS SNIFF OUT LAND MINES SAVING HUMAN LIVES

GOOD RATS ?

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Image: Screen Capture from linked in YOUTUBE video.

All over the world there are abandoned mine fields with tons of unexploded ordinance. It is believed based on studies in 2013 that on average there are about nine abandoned mine deaths every day around the world. Men and dogs are good at detecting and removing land mines but at great risk to the individuals. It only takes about 11 pounds to set off the typical land mine. A really big rat is often under two pounds. Rats , like dogs have a highly developed sense of smell and they are trainable. It had to happen, introducing  THE HERO RATS. 

Usually men in body armor with metal detectors clear mine fields. unfortunately most anything metal can set off these metal detectors and each "ping" has to be investigated. Rats are faster.  Watch any or all of these amazing videos for more information and some amazing scenes. No rates were killed in making these videos and indeed as of today's date no rats have been killed in the line of duty. Rats are retired as soon as they lose interest in mine hunting and get fed a prime rat diet for the rest of their somewhat short little rat lives. Due to their light body weight they don't really face imminent accidental death from exploding mines. Now a fox or a cat might pounce on them at work but they are watched over carefully by at least one human rat body guard. You have to see it to believe it, links to the videos are below: 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0swUc492hU

http://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000003635415/the-mine-sniffing-rats-of-africa.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/10/151006-giant-rats-landmines-cambodia-science-animals/