Giant rats defuse land mines

**Jenna** · 09-08-10, 06:51 PM

Several of Weetjens' family members had worked in Africa, and Weetjens harbored a commitment to the continent. In the spring of 1995, he was analyzing the world's land mine epidemic -- a cause made vogue at the time by Britain's Princess Diana -- when he came across research that spoke to his childhood proclivity.
Scientists were studying the use of gerbils in land mine detection, but they were using a system involving brain electrodes that Weetjens found unsustainable. He wanted a locally based solution that might empower communities.
"Yes, rats can do that," he thought. "I knew I was right, even if it was very hard to defend."

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Giant rats put noses to work on Africa's land mine epidemic - CNN.com

**Ducky** · 09-08-10, 07:36 PM

Rats are wayyy more intelligent than people realize, and people have been putting them to work for decades. Longer, if you consider how long they've been used in labs. They're easily trained and very affectionate.