Researchers Have a New Tool to Fight Illegal Wildlife Trading
Researchers have discovered an unconventional but powerful tool in combating the illegal wildlife trade—giant rats! African giant pouched rats, previously trained to detect explosives and assist in search-and-rescue missions, are now being utilized to sniff out trafficked wildlife products such as elephant tusks, rhino horns, African blackwood, and pangolin scales.
Training Rats to Detect Wildlife Contraband
A study conducted by researchers at the Okeanos Foundation demonstrates that these highly intelligent rodents can successfully identify illegal wildlife materials, even when hidden among other scents. “Our study shows that we can train African giant pouched rats to detect illegally trafficked wildlife, even when it has been concealed among other substances,” said Dr. Isabelle Szott, a researcher involved in the project.
African giant pouched rats can weigh up to nine pounds and reach lengths of 35 inches from snout to tail. While they are classified as an invasive species in Florida, their remarkable olfactory abilities make them valuable allies in conservation efforts. The research, conducted in collaboration with APOPO, a Tanzania-based non-profit organization, was published in Frontiers in Conservation Science.
The Science Behind the Training
The team worked with 11 rats, some of which were named after conservationists. The rats underwent structured training, beginning with holding their noses to a hole containing the scent of a target material. Upon correctly identifying the scent, they were rewarded with flavored rodent pellets. To refine their abilities, the rats were then exposed to common masking scents used by traffickers, such as coffee beans, laundry detergent powder, and electric cables. Despite these distractions, the rats successfully singled out the wildlife-related odors.
An impressive aspect of the study was the rats' ability to retain scent memory. Even after five to eight months without exposure, they accurately recognized previously learned scents. Their long-term memory capabilities were found to be comparable to those of dogs, which are commonly used for bomb detection.
Why Rats Over Dogs?
While dogs have proven effective in scent detection, they face limitations in certain environments. Rats, on the other hand, can navigate tight spaces and access areas where dogs cannot. “Existing screening tools are expensive and time-intensive, and there is an urgent need to increase cargo screening. APOPO’s rats are cost-efficient scent detection tools. They can easily access tight spaces like cargo in packed shipping containers or be lifted up high to screen the ventilation systems of sealed containers,” Szott explained.
Future Applications and Challenges
The next phase of research involves adapting these rats for real-world operations, particularly in ports frequently used for smuggling. Researchers plan to equip the rats with custom vests featuring small beeping devices. When a rat detects a target scent, it can pull a small ball on its vest to signal its handler.
However, there are challenges to overcome. The study was conducted in a controlled environment, which does not fully replicate the conditions of wildlife trafficking detection in the field. More research is needed to refine the methods and ensure practical implementation.
With wildlife trafficking affecting over 4,000 species globally, the urgency for innovative solutions is clear. According to a 2020 Faunalytics report, nearly 6,000 species were seized worldwide between 1999 and 2018. As conservationists continue to battle against poaching and illegal trade, these remarkable rats could play a crucial role in protecting endangered species and curbing illegal activities.
The potential for these intelligent creatures extends beyond wildlife conservation—APOPO is also training "rescue rats" for life-saving missions. With their keen noses and agility, these rats may soon revolutionize multiple fields of humanitarian and environmental protection.
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