Llewdrac started
#training
as a mine detection rat, but was reassigned to tuberculosis (TB) detection for being a slow walker. He's excelling! He learns the smell of TB-positive samples & the indication behavior (3s nose poke) needed to receive a reward.
#newcareerpath
#herorats
With mixed feelings, we announce that PDSA Gold-medalist Magawa will be retiring this month. Although still in good health, he has reached a retirement age and is clearly starting to slow down. It is time.
Thanks so much for supporting him!
Read more:
HeroRAT 'walkies' - where we allow the rats to choose when and where to venture, so they build their confidence outside of their detection training sessions, ensuring they feel secure and focused when learning how to
#savelives
with their powerful nose.💫
#HeroRATs
#APOPO
It is with sadness we announce that Shuri, the much loved HeroRAT, passed away peacefully. We are bereft at the loss of our little hero but so grateful for the great work Shuri was able to do for the people of Angola.
#restinpeace
#loveandlight
#heroesneverdie
#neverforgotten
One of the challenges of a
#FullCheekFriday
feast is racing siblings to reach the tastiest treats first...😅
After a week of hard work getting socialized & learning to wear different harnesses, these HeroPUPs are really happy that the weekend is finally here! Have a great one! 🐭
In the past month,
#HeroRAT
Ronin found 2
#landmines
& 1 unexploded bomb, clearing 6,505 m² for
#APOPO
. His work enables safe land use. Ronin works 30 mins in the morning, and rests/plays well afterward. This balance maintains his effectiveness.
#cambodia
#savinglives
#herorats
APOPO is training HeroRATs for Search & Rescue. The rats have a great sense of smell, and can move through small spaces to search for survivors. The basic behavioral sequence is: search for victim, pull ball to communicate victim has been found, then return to trainer for reward.
Meet Ronin 🐭 He is a gentle landmine detection rat and loves shoulder rides. On the minefield, he is focused and hardworking. Based in Cambodia, Ronin safely sniffs out deadly explosives faster than conventional solutions.
#herorats
#APOPO
#rats
#minedetection
#ratofthemonth
We all need to protect ourselves from the sun. Our HeroRATs are nocturnal. We work with them in the early morning, apply sunscreen to bare ears and tails and stop before it gets hot. Here, a rat handler in Angola applies sunscreen to
#HeroRAT
Senzo's ears and tail before work.
In rural
#Cambodia
, many people are farmers, using tractors, cows or buffaloes. These are heavy enough to trigger an anti-vehicle mine. Our APOPO HeroRAT Gladys found 2 anti-vehicle mines at Trapeang Plouh Village in Siem Reap province with her unique sense of smell! Way to go!
Ah yes, dopamine release…
These six African giant pouched rat pups were brought to
#APOPO
by a kind rescuer. Estimated at about 4 weeks old we’re grateful for this opportunity to provide a safe haven and plenty of loving care.
#grateful
#ratpile
#futureheroes
#cutenessoverload
Nothing beats a job well done! 🏆 HeroRAT Miriam correctly identified all 3 landmines in her 20-minute training session and each time she indicated by scratching at the surface of the ground, she heard a "CLICK", and received a tasty treat 🍌
#training
#landmines
#APOPO
#herorats
🕊️ Reflecting on the sad anniversary of Turkey's earthquake disaster, we stand in solidarity with survivors. Our hearts ache for those affected in Turkey & Syria. Grateful for support from partners as our Search & Rescue project develops.
#APOPO
#RescueRATs
#RememberingTurkey
Did you know that APOPO trains rats to detect more than
#landmines
and
#tuberculosis
?
Watch the video and learn more:
Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Today is
#MineAwarenessDay
and also
#WorldRatDay
. Let's take a moment to honor our amazing HeroRATs and their vital contribution toward achieving a
#MineFreeWorld
.E ach year we use this opportunity to reflect on our work and celebrate our achievements:
Gentle
#HeroRAT
Joshua is getting harnessed for his session at our training minefield in
#Tanzania
. Every weekday he searches a 3x20m box looking for tea eggs filled with TNT! There are 6 positives and 8 negatives hidden just under the surface and he uses his keen sense of smell.
"Why rats?"
- They have a highly-developed sense of smell
- They're very intelligent & easy to train
- They're too light to set off landmines
- They're locally sourced in Tanzania
- They're easily transferable between trainers
- They're easy to care for
- They live ±8 years
Today is HeroRAT Baraka's 2nd birthday! 🎉 He did intensive mine detection rat training in Tanzania, passed accreditation tests, and is deployed to APOPO Mine Action in Angola.
Wish this little hero a happy birthday:
#HeroRATs
#MineDetection
#APOPO
Today is Magawa's birthday! 🎂
We can confirm that he is very much enjoying his retirement. 😃
You can wish him a happy birthday and send him some love, by leaving a comment and like below ❤️ 👇
Pups Lois, Orpheus & Splinter head outside for today's
#socialization
session. The trainers gently watch over the 3 siblings who are eager to explore but are careful not to venture too far. They know & trust their humans & enjoy these sessions exploring the big world around them.
Happiness is a handful of HeroRAT pups!
The first step to becoming a HeroRAT is “socialization”. APOPO handlers gently carry them around, introducing them to sights, smells, and sounds in their training environment.
#helloworld
#heropups
#socialization
#habituation
#APOPO
Today is
#WorldAnimalDay
, let’s pay tribute to our HeroRATs, who for over 2 decades have worked tirelessly alongside us to protect people, livestock and wildlife from the threat of landmines and tuberculosis.
You are truly amazing! 💙🐭🧡
Did you know that most of our
#HeroRATs
remain with their siblings as per their natural social behavior? 🐭🐭🐭🐭 Here are 4 sleepy sibling pups in their home nest. Notice how they are going through their first
#moult
. They shed their downy baby coat and grow a sleek new one.
The truth about sharing a bed...😂😂😂 Our rats live in pairs (typically siblings) for as long as they are happy to be. Housing kennels are dimly lit & well-ventilated. Each home cage has a round clay pot & plenty of bedding to simulate a natural underground nest for cozy rest.
Did you know that a
#HeroRAT
can fit a WHOLE banana 🍌in their cheeks with careful chewing and placement 😅
Last
#FullCheekFriday
of the year features Teddy and Chiquita - have an amazing weekend folks! New year's resolutions coming in hot. See you next year 💫🐭
Excited to announce 15 precious additions to the HeroRATs family! ❤️ We stopped by to check on the pups and mamas; they are thriving. Patient, attentive and nurturing mothers like Haikaeli, Megan and Bonnie, positively impact the learning abilities and well-being of a litter.
"Why do you use rats?"
- They have an incredible sense of smell and are easy to train.
- They're too light to trigger landmines.
- They're easy to care for and live long: around 8 years.
And they are very cute. 💙
#HeroRATs
#ScentDetection
#innovation
#APOPO
#SavingLives
Not all
#HeroRATs
are the same. When young Lanner began to struggle in training, Dr. Cindy Fast gave him extra attention to build his confidence by allowing him to explore the world while getting comfortable in his harness. Lanner, you've got this!
#training
#APOPO
#futureheroes
Today, 20 HeroRATs from APOPO's Training Center in Tanzania head to Cambodia. Each is placed in a specially designed crate for a safe journey, with their welfare monitored. These trained rats will clear landmines, making areas safer for communities. Safe travels,! 🌍✈️🌏🐭
Carat bets you wish chubby cheeks looked this cute on you! 💛
HeroRAT Carat was named by our good friend Ann who chose the name Carat because she is worth her weight in gold! ✨ Thanks for visiting Ann!
#FullCheekFriday
#weekendvibes
#cheekpouches
#herorats
#FCF
Nap time for these
#HeroRATs
in training. Dreaming of a heroic future sniffing out illegally trafficked wildlife samples...
Our HeroRATs are nocturnal so when they are not training they get some shuteye. Hard to sneak up on them with such an acute sense of hearing.
The 1st stage of a HeroRAT's training is socialization to humans & habituation to various environments. Training begins when rat pups first open their eyes at 4 weeks. Uncle Albert introduces this group to the 'School Bus', which will take them to & from the training minefield.
🐭 + 🥑 = 💛
Our
#HeroRATs
are African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys ansorgei). This large muroid rodent is native to
#Tanzania
. They are
#omnivores
&
#nocturnal
. They get their name from their cheek pouches used to store and carry food.
Happy
#FullCheekFriday
from Jordan!
Today is
#WorldAnimalDay
, let’s pay tribute to our HeroRATs, who for over 25 years have worked tirelessly alongside us to protect people, livestock and wildlife from the threat of landmines and tuberculosis. You are truly amazing! 💙🐭🧡
#APOPO
#ServiceAnimals
#AnimalHeroes
HeroRAT
#Ronin
found an Anti-Tank Mine today in a minefield in Preah Vihear province,
#Cambodia
. Had a tractor triggered the mine, it could have endangered the lives of everyone nearby. Swift action was taken, and the mine was safely disposed of.
#APOPO
#HeroRATs
#SavingLives
Handling a rat needs to be with a gentle touch. They need to feel comfortable and secure so are picked up in a way that supports their large frame, and are held close to the body with firm footing. HeroRATs respond better to confident handlers.
🐭: TB-detection rat Carolina
A mine detection rat can check the area of a tennis court in just 30 minutes, a job that could take a deminer with a metal detector up to four days depending on how much scrap metal is lying around.
Watch our video to discover how:
Rats may have a bad reputation, but they're actually incredibly clean animals! They spend a significant amount of time grooming their fur and keeping themselves tidy. 🐭
#CleanAndCute
During
#training
,
#HeroRATs
learn to discriminate TNT. They find 2 tea-eggs with TNT and ignore all other scents. Only TNT-positive eggs earn rewards. This teaches them to scratch the ground above a positive, using scent to differentiate explosives from scrap metal.
#APOPO
After a relaxing weekend, curled up in our cosy home (pictured here dreaming of a heroic future), these mine detection HeroRATs-in-training are excited for Monday morning and a whole new week of searching for landmines at our training field in
#Tanzania
.
#sundayvibes
#herorats
Handling a rat needs to be done firmly with a gentle touch. They need to feel secure, so are picked up in a way that supports their large frame, and are held close to the body with firm footing.
#HeroRATs
(like many habituated animals) respond better to confident handlers.
#APOPO
Our
#rats
are commonly referred to as African giant pouched rats, but we like to call them
#HeroRATs
! They have a long lifespan, averaging 8+ years in captivity. They have a highly developed sense of smell & are native to sub-Saharan Africa.
#innovation
#socialtransformation
At around 5 weeks old, HeroPUPs begin “socialization and habituation” training. APOPO handlers gently carry them, introducing them to new people, sounds, places, to teach them about the training environment. Trainer Dibwe gently watches over 2 siblings. They know and trust him.
Step 3 of HeroRAT training: INDICATION - teaching the rat that it can make its trainer CLICK by touching the tea-egg containing the target scent (in this case TNT) and receive a tasty food reward!
#positivereinforcement
#herorats
#futureheroes
#tanzania
Did you know that the African giant pouched rats are named so, thanks to their large cheek pouches? These omnivorous rats do not always swallow their food immediately - instead, they store it away in their pouches to feast on later.
Happy
#FullCheekFriday
everyone! 🐭🥕🧡
Hello Neighbor!
Scheduled exercise sessions in shaded, fun environments are vital for HeroRATs. These areas allow them to express their natural behavior while staying fit for their life-saving duties. Wire mesh barriers encourage safe interaction & exposure to new neighbors.
'Why does
#APOPO
use
#herorats
?'
- They have an amazing sense of smell
- They're very intelligent
- They're too light to set landmines
- They're locally sourced in Tanzania
- They're transferable between trainers
- They're easy to care for
- They live 8 years
#innovation
“We do get attached to our rats, but when they pass their final test and get sent to an operational site, we feel happy because that is our goal.”
Uncle Albert, Rat Socializer Extraordinaire
#heropups
#futureheroes
#herorats
Joining us today for
#FullCheekFriday
are Murat and Sefa from GEA, a Search and Rescue organization in Turkey.
#GEA
is collaborating with our
#RescueRAT
program to help prepare HeroRATs to locate trapped survivors in collapsed buildings. Happy
#FCF
everyone!
At around 4-5 weeks, the first step to becoming a HeroRAT is taken when the pups begin their 'Socialization & Habituation', it teaches the rats to trust humans and encourages their natural curiosity to explore new environments.
#HeroRATs
#Training
#Innovation
#ScentDetection
Nothing beats a job well done! 🏆
HeroRAT Miriam correctly found all 3 landmines in her training session and each time she indicated by scratching at the surface of the ground, she heard a CLICK , and received a tasty treat 🍌
Step 3 of HeroRAT training: INDICATION - teaching the rat that it can make its trainer CLICK by touching the tea-egg containing the target scent (in this case TNT) and receive a tasty food reward!
#positivereinforcement
#herorats
#futureheroes
#tanzania