Rats trained to find earthquake survivors buried under rubble to save lives – World News

The researcher dr. Donna Kean, 33, from Glasgow has been training rats in Tanzania, East Africa. She said the animals can get into small spaces and are “perfect for search and rescue work.”

Rats with tiny backpacks are trained to find earthquake survivors buried under rubble.

The rodents may carry microphones, tracking devices, and video equipment.

The researcher dr. Donna Kean, 33, from Glasgow trains the animals in Tanzania, East Africa.

She said: “Rats could enter small spaces to get to victims buried in rubble.

“We have the potential to speak to victims through the rat.”

The rodents are also trained to respond to a “beep” that calls them back to their base.

Donna added, “They’re so agile, they’re so good at moving through all kinds of environments.

“They are perfect for search and rescue work.

“They are very good at surviving in different environments, which just goes to show how well suited they are to search and rescue work.”

Donna works with the non-profit organization APOPO, which has trained African opossums to find landmines and sniff out TB from human sputum samples.

She said: “They are very trainable, the first stage is training them to go back to base point – they respond to a beep.

“There is a misconception that they are dirty and unsanitary.

“They are in good hands with us, they are sociable animals.”

It is hoped that Donna’s rats will be field tested in Turkey, an earthquake-prone country.

She said: “We hope it will save lives, the results are really promising.”