Smells like a HeroRAT
The Field|February 2021
‘Rats’ – a four-letter word to many of us. But thanks to its olfactory skills, that much-decried rodent isn’t necessarily the villain of the piece
JAMES McKAY
Smells like a HeroRAT

The Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus), despite its name, is more closely related to the hamster. The pouches give it away. Found on both sides of the animal’s face, they are used to transport huge amounts of food to the animal’s home, giving a new meaning to the term ‘stuffing your face’. The German verb ‘hamstern’ means to hoard.

While most people are aware of the superior olfactory abilities of dogs, it may come as a surprise to know that ‘pouchies’ have an even better sense of smell. As a result, they have been used to find unexploded ordnance in several African countries since Bart Weetjens, director of APOPO – Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling (AntiPersonnel Landmines Removal Product Development), a Belgian research company – had the idea to use them in the 1990s, christening the rodents ‘HeroRATs’.

APOPO took the concept of sniffer dogs, miniaturised it and now trains and deploys the HeroRATs throughout the African continent. Today, HeroRATs are used not only to find unexploded landmines but to detect tuberculosis (TB) in humans and even to find smuggled wildlife, such as the pangolin. And in these strange times, pouched rats are being considered for an additional task: detecting COVID-19.

DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS

Bu hikaye The Field dergisinin February 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye The Field dergisinin February 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

THE FIELD DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Rory Stewart - The former Cabinet minister and hit podcast host talks to Alec Marsh about the parlous state of British politics, land management and his deep love of the countryside
The Field

Rory Stewart - The former Cabinet minister and hit podcast host talks to Alec Marsh about the parlous state of British politics, land management and his deep love of the countryside

The gently spoken 51-year-old former Conservative Cabinet minister is a countryman at heart. That's clear: he even changes into a tweed waistcoat for the interview, which takes place at his London home and begins with a question about his precise career status. Having resigned from the Commons and the Conservative Party in 2019, the former diplomat and soldier has reinvented himself, first with an unconventional but promising run as an independent for the London mayoralty (abandoned because of COVID19 in 2020) and then as a media figure, co-hosting one of the country's most popular podcasts, The Rest Is Politics, alongside Alastair Campbell, the former Labour spin doctor.

time-read
4 dak  |
November 2024
Fodder
The Field

Fodder

Local fare with the feel-good factor.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 2024
Celebrating the game changers
The Field

Celebrating the game changers

Once served only in the traditional manner, the fruits of our forays now find their way into all manner of diverse and delicious dishes, say Neil and Serena Cross

time-read
3 dak  |
November 2024
The first civil engineer
The Field

The first civil engineer

John Smeaton left an indelible mark on the field of engineering and, three centuries after his birth, his legacy remains as strong as ever

time-read
6 dak  |
November 2024
School spirits
The Field

School spirits

From grey ladies and ghostly gardeners to more malign entities, public schools are a rich repository of unnatural phenomena

time-read
8 dak  |
November 2024
'A long way from Piccadilly or Pall Mall'
The Field

'A long way from Piccadilly or Pall Mall'

Marking 150 years since the birth of Sir Winston Churchill, Dr Conor Farrington explores this eminent statesman’s often-overlooked 1907 tour of British East Africa: a journey rich with enchanting natural beauty and sporting adventure

time-read
7 dak  |
November 2024
Top of the pups
The Field

Top of the pups

Canines in all their guises were celebrated at The Field Top Dog Awards lunch at Defender Burghley Horse Trials whether eager on the peg, patient at home or perpetually making mischief

time-read
6 dak  |
November 2024
Angling for success
The Field

Angling for success

It’s never too early to shape up for next season’s salmon and trout, and these top fishing schools are here to help

time-read
7 dak  |
November 2024
Talking scents
The Field

Talking scents

The canine nose is an astonishingly complex piece of biotechnology that man has harnessed for sustenance and sport for thousands of years

time-read
7 dak  |
November 2024
Wall-to-wall excitement
The Field

Wall-to-wall excitement

Criss-crossed by formidable drystone walls, the High Peak Harriers’ scenic country provides a day out with an exhilarating difference

time-read
7 dak  |
November 2024