Giant pouched rats can detect illegal wildlife products at Tazanian ports

Trained rats in custom vests alert handlers to hidden wildlife items by pulling a small ball that emits signal

A groundbreaking study has revealed that African giant pouched rats can be effectively trained to detect scents associated with illegal wildlife trafficking.

The research, conducted by the non-profit organization APOPO, highlights the potential of these rodents as cost-effective tools for combating the illegal trade of endangered species products at ports.

Equipped with custom vests, the trained rats can alert handlers to hidden wildlife items by pulling a small ball, which emits a signal.

Dr. Isabelle Szott from the Okeanos Foundation, who co-authored the study, stated that these rats have previously demonstrated their capabilities in detecting landmines and tuberculosis pathogens.

“Our study shows that we can train African giant pouched rats to detect illegally trafficked wildlife, even when concealed among other substances,” she said.

The training process involved rigorous stages, including "indication training," where rats learned to recognize target scents and received rewards for accurate identifications.

During the "discrimination training" phase, rats were exposed to both target and non-target scents, enabling them to learn which odors to signal while ignoring irrelevant smells.

Szott noted that the rats exhibited long-term scent memory, successfully identifying scents they had not encountered for several months.

In practical tests at the Dar es Salaam seaport, the rats excelled in detecting wildlife scents, including those masked by common household items like coffee beans and washing powder.

Szott explained that the rats’ performance under complex conditions was impressive, showcasing their adaptability.

APOPO's custom vests, designed for the rats, enhance their operational capabilities.

The vests feature a microswitch that emits a beep when the rat pulls on a chest ball, a behavior trained during detection tasks.

Szott mentioned ongoing explorations into additional functionalities for the vests, such as cameras and remote signal capabilities.

Beyond wildlife detection, the rats have been successfully deployed for landmine detection and tuberculosis screening.

Szott indicated that ongoing research aims to train these rats for other forms of illegal detection, including drug and arms trafficking.

Their small size allows them to navigate tight spaces, making them efficient tools for inspecting packed cargo containers.

While this study marks a significant step in using rats for wildlife trafficking prevention, researchers acknowledge challenges ahead.

The controlled environment of the study does not fully represent the complexities of real-world trafficking sites.

Further development of detection protocols and hardware is necessary for effective deployment in high-traffic zones.

The researchers underscored the potential of using rats to tackle intertwined illegal activities, emphasizing that wildlife trafficking often intersects with other criminal enterprises.

“Deploying rats to combat wildlife trafficking may assist with the global fight against networks that exploit humans and nature,” concluded Dr. Kate Webb, co-author and assistant professor at Duke University.

The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Conservation Science.