How rats were trained to clear landmines

In 2004, the world's first team of mine-detecting rats passed accreditation tests, opening the way for them to be used in humanitarian demining operations.

The project was the brainchild of Belgian researcher Bart Weetjens, who was inspired to tackle the global landmine crisis after seeing Princess Diana walk through a minefield in Angola in 1997.

Drawing on a lifelong love of rodents, he worked with researchers at the University of Antwerp to train Giant African Pouched Rats from Tanzania to detect explosives.

Bart tells Nicky Edwards about the moment he first saw the animals successfully identify buried landmines. Since then, the rats have helped clear them in countries including Mozambique, Cambodia and Azerbaijan.

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(Photo: A baby giant African pouch rat sits on the shoulder of the Bart Weetjens. Credit: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images)