What is it?Well, it is a Giant Gambian Rat being used as an explosive sniffer in a de-mining mission.
Why a rat?
Because they have an extremely sensitive sense of smell, are easy to train and do not weigh enough to set off the mines. ( unlike dogs)
A rat can clear 100 metres square in 30 minutes, equivalent to two days of human work.
They have been used in several de-mining operations in Africa with good results. Scientists are even developing a wasp that will alert on explosives, but, I believe I would rather have a giant rat, thank you.
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