Apopo teaches the rats to sniff out mines so that humans can then come and remove them.
Training takes place in Tanzania, during a nine month long program.
They have been tested in Mozambique to great success.
People there are calling them Hero Rats.
Advantages of the rats are that they are quick workers, as they naturally use their nose to navigate due to their limited eye sight; they can be used by any trainer, not becoming bound to one, like dogs; they are light enough that they can't accidentally set off mines; and they are relatively cheap.
Unfortunately there are some draw backs, such as their short life span, their lack of ability to work in certain climates, and they sometimes require retraining.
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