Support Our RescueRATs

Search and Rescue

 
As you may know, APOPO’s research team have been busy with finding new applications for our HeroRATs and, some time ago, we started training our rats to find people in debris sites, so that they may assist in real-life rescues of people in collapsed buildings – RescueRATs as a concept was born! As with all scientific ventures, testing hypotheses and then developing an idea can take many years, but we are proud to say that, with your help, we have already accomplished a lot. 

[Update March 2025]
So far, and thanks to you, the Search and Rescue Program Lead, Dr. Danielle Giangrasso, has successfully relocated to Türkiye. She is diligently working with GEA, our Turkish Search and Rescue partner organization, to prepare a new permanent base, which will include staff offices, meeting rooms, rat kennels, enrichment areas, logistics/storage containers, debris training areas, green spaces, and a general assembly area for demonstrations and visitors.

Your Donations at Work 
– Your donations have helped us successfully construct six transport cages and six temporary housing cages for rat travel and deployment.
– All of our RescueRATs have received their travel vaccinations, health inspections, and passports.
– We are in the final steps of obtaining import and export permits for the rats and sourcing local veterinarians in the area.
– Our design plan for custom-made kennels has been finalized.
– We have begun sourcing local supplies for the rats, including water bottles, bedding, clay pots, enrichment items, avocados, and bananas.

The current cohort of six RescueRATs may not be in Türkiye yet, but they are continuing their advanced training in Morogoro, Tanzania, being prepared for complex debris scenarios and variable environments. We have also begun training a new cohort of eight RescueRATs in Morogoro, leveraging insights from the previous group to enhance their training.

We are now aiming for an internal deadline of April for the completion of these facilities, which will determine the relocation of our RescueRATs.

In light of this, we are still fundraising and hope you can consider supporting this important venture.