A creative project is currently being worked on by 33-year-old Dr. Donna Kean, a research scientist from Glasgow.
As specified in a Good News Network report, rats being trained to be sent into earthquake remains wearing small backpacks so rescue teams can communicate with survivors.
So far, seven rats have been trained, taking just two weeks to get them up to speed. Currently, homemade prototype backpacks that contain a microphone are being employed, and scientists are sending them into simulated debris.
Essentially, specialist backpacks with microscopes, video gear, and a location tracker will be devised to enable the rescue team to communicate with survivors during actual earthquakes.
Dr. Kean has been based in Morogoro, Tanzania, for one year, working with APOPO, a non-profit organization, for a project called Hero Rats.
In this project, rodents are given a chance to work in the field when they are sent to earthquake-prone Turkey to work with a search and rescue team.
Rodents' Ability to Save Lives
Kean, who studied ecology at Strathclyde University before pursuing an MA at the University of Kent and a Ph.D. at Stirling University, was originally interested in investigating primate behavior.
However, she was fascinated by how fast rats can learn and be trained and said the said animals' being unhygienic is a misconception, a similar Newsweek via MSN report specified.
She also described the rodents as "sociable creatures," and believes the project currently being done will help save lives.
According to a similar report from The Telegraph, a total of 170 rats are being trained for projects which include landmines and TB, and it is hoped these animals could sniff out Brucellosis, an infectious disease impacting livestock.
Special Tiny Backpacks
Essentially, the rats are so nimble that they have never set off a landmine, and their agility makes them perfect to be employed in disaster areas.
Kean explained rats would be able to get into tiny spaces "to get to victims buried in the rubble." She added, "We have not been in a real situation yet," they have a simulated debris site.
When the new backpacks become available, search and rescue teams can hear where they are based and where the rodent is inside the debris.
More so, they also get the chance to speak to victims through the rat. The rodents are then trained to respond to a beep, which calls them back to the base.
Rats' Flexibility and Small Size Make Them Ideal Rescuers
The research scientist also said a colleague is a seamstress, making the backpacks, "she's very talented." She continued, that they are getting custom-made backpacks that will contain video recorders, microphones, and a location transmitter.
It's quite unusual, Kean said, continuing to describe the rodents ad added, they are so agile, so good at moving through any environment. These animals, she elaborated, are perfect for search and rescue-type work, and they can live off anything.
The rodents are very good at surviving in different environments, which shows how appropriate they are for search and rescue work.
Dogs have been employed for similar purposes, although rodents have an advantage because of their flexibility and small size.
Kean added that they are very trainable, the first step is to train them to return to the base point, and they respond to a beep. She also expressed hope that this project will help save lives with its promising results.
A report about the tiny rats carrying backpacks is shown on the Daily Record's YouTube video below:
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