African giant pouched rats have been trained to identify pangolin scales, elephant ivory, and other items from at-risk species to help combat wildlife smuggling in African ports. Wildlife smugglers are causing significant harm to biodiversity by poaching specific species. The rats are being trained by researchers in Morogoro, Tanzania, with APOPO, a nonprofit organization that deploys scent-detection animals for various purposes. Poachers often engage in brutal activities such as hacking off horns from living rhinos or leaving dead elephants to rot on the forest floor.
Many ports already use canines to detect illegally smuggled goods, but African pouched rats have the potential to be more effective due to their incredible sense of smell, agility, and relatively low cost of care. APOPO-trained rats have also been used to detect landmines and tuberculosis in mucus samples. The researchers have taught 11 rat trainees how to differentiate between odors in a laboratory setting, including specific scents from wildlife species and other benign odors. By rewarding the rats when they correctly identified the targeted odors, they were able to learn to signal and receive snacks.
The rats were trained to differentiate between scents including pangolin scales, rhino horn, elephant tusk, and African blackwood, which is commonly used in musical instruments. The rats were able to distinguish these scents from 146 other odors that smugglers often use to mask and hide their goods. The researchers are now taking the training a step further by testing the rats in more realistic scenarios such as mock warehouses and real ports. Some of the rats from the original cohort are now enjoying their retirement in a colony at APOPO, where they are pampered with fruits, veggies, and sun-dried fish.
The concept of using African giant pouched rats as a new kind of border patrol agent could have significant implications for deterring the international wildlife trade across African ports. The training process involves teaching the rats to identify specific scents through rewards, which they have found effective in differentiating between wildlife species and other odors commonly used by smugglers. By utilizing these rats in ports for detecting illegal goods, authorities could significantly impact the wildlife smuggling trade and help protect at-risk species from further harm. With ongoing research and training, these rats may become valuable assets in the fight against wildlife trafficking in African countries.
