25/06/2025
What has a tail, whiskers, and the courage to crawl through collapsed buildings to save humans?
Rescue rats. With backpacks. No joke.
In what sounds like the wildest Pixar plot ever, a Belgian non-profit called APOPO is training African giant pouched rats to help find survivors in disaster zones. These little legends are being fitted with tiny custom-made backpacks that include location trackers, cameras, and two-way microphones.
Yup. You can literally talk to a rat as it searches for trapped people under rubble.
But why rats? Aren’t they just pests? Not these ones.
African pouched rats are smart, lightweight, and insanely good at smelling stuff. They can squeeze into tight spaces where humans and dogs can’t go, and they’re light enough not to trigger unstable debris. Plus, they’re fast learners and totally chill in chaotic environments.
They’ve already proven their skills in landmine detection and tuberculosis screening. Now, they’re being trained to sniff out survivors after earthquakes, bombings, and other disasters. When they find a human, they pull a switch on their vest to alert the team, and boom, a life could be saved.
Each rat is treated like a hero. They get daily care, playtime, and even retirement when their work is done. And before you ask: No, they’re not sent into dangerous situations unless it's safe for them.
It’s one of the most unexpected but brilliant uses of animal intelligence and tech combined. A rat may not look like a superhero, but if you were trapped under a collapsed building, one might just be your best shot at survival.
Takeaway? Don’t underestimate the underdogs of the animal world. Sometimes the smallest creatures carry the biggest missions.
