Smells like a HeroRAT
The Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus), despite its name, is more closely related to the hamster. The pouches give it away. Found on both sides of the animal’s face, they are used to transport huge amounts of food to the animal’s home, giving a new meaning to the term ‘stuffing your face’. The German verb ‘hamstern’ means to hoard.
While most people are aware of the superior olfactory abilities of dogs, it may come as a surprise to know that ‘pouchies’ have an even better sense of smell. As a result, they have been used to find unexploded ordnance in several African countries since Bart Weetjens, director of APOPO – Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling (Anti-Personnel Landmines Removal Product Development), a Belgian research company –
