HeroRATs

The highly developed sense of smell and light weight of our African giant pouched rats, nicknamed ‘HeroRATs’, make them ideal detectors of landmines and tuberculosis.

HERORATS IN ACTION

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HeroRATs detecting landmines

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HeroRATs detecting tuberculosis

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HeroRATs in research & development

HOW THEY SPEED UP LANDMINE DETECTION

HeroRATs sniff out the chemical compounds of TNT (explosive) found in landmines and other explosive remnants of war. They ignore scrap metal making them much faster at detecting landmines than metal detectors.

HOW THEY HELP TO DETECT TUBERCULOSIS

The APOPO tuberculosis detection rats check TB samples collected from local clinics. Any samples they indicate as suspect are reconfirmed in APOPO's lab using WHO-endorsed methods. Our research program shows that the rats can increase detection rates of partner clinics by 40%.

HERORATS FOR ADOPTION

Meet Baraka

Baraka is a sweet and playful young rat that is being trained as a Mine Detection Rat or ‘HeroRAT’ for short. He is training under expert handlers in Tanzania at APOPO's Training and Innovation Center.

Meet Ronin

Ronin is a gentle landmine detection rat and loves shoulder rides. On the minefield he is focused and hardworking. Based in Cambodia, Ronin sniffs out deadly explosives faster than conventional solutions.

Meet Carolina

Carolina is a female tuberculosis detection rat based in Dar es Salaam, a mega-city in Tanzania. Carolina can search 100 sputum samples in 20 minutes, much faster than a lab technician. Adopt Carolina and help us fight TB.

STORIES: HERRY

Nine year old Herry was very sick. His local clinic didn’t know why. Read how APOPO identified his TB.

ANIMAL
WELFARE

TRAINING & RESEARCH

GALLERY

GOT ANY QUESTIONS?

Try looking for answers on our FAQ page, or send us an email from the contacts page. If you are a journalist you can contact the press team on the press page.

SUPPORT OUR HERORATS

HeroRATs save lives – its official.