Cape Town, Oct. 31, (dpa/GNA) – African giant pouched rats, known for their exceptional sense of smell, are being used to detect trafficked wildlife and illegal plant trade, scientists said in the journal Frontiers in Conservation Science.
The giant pouched rats, known scientifically as Cricetomys ansorgei, use their keen sense of smell to help track down smugglers and protect endangered species.
The wildlife detectives can sniff out illegal items such as elephant ivory, rhino horn, pangolin scales, and even African blackwood.
A study involving 11 giant pouched rats showed that the rodents are capable of detecting smuggled parts even when hidden among other substances, said co-author Isabelle Szott of the German Okeanos Foundation.
The rats also reportedly have a good memory, are able to identify scents – even if they had not been exposed to them for up to eight months, according to co-author Kate Webb from Duke University in North Carolina in the United States.
The research team collaborated with the Belgian organization Apopo in Tanzania, which operates a training centre for giant pouched rats. Apopo already uses the animals to clear landmines in countries such as Angola and Cambodia and has trained them to sniff out tuberculosis in medical facilities.
Szott said that using these animals as scent detectors is not only cheaper but also faster than existing screening methods.
The rats can easily access narrow spaces in shipping containers or inspect ventilation systems of sealed containers, according to Szott.
She said the study serves as proof of concept, demonstrating that giant pouched rats can identify illegally traded wildlife in controlled environments. The next phase will involve testing their effectiveness in real-world conditions, Szott added.
GNA