Gambian pouched rat

The Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus), also known as the African giant pouched rat, is a nocturnal pouched rat of the giant pouched rat genus Cricetomys, and is among the largest muroids in the world, growing up to about 0.9 metres (3 ft) long including their tail which makes up half their length.[2] It is widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging geographically from Senegal to Kenya and from Angola to Mozambique (although it is absent from much of the DR Congo, where Emin's pouched rat is present) and in altitude from sea level to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft).[1]

The animals are sometimes kept as pets, but some have escaped from captivity and become an invasive species in Florida.[3] The CDC and FDA in the US now ban the importation of this species. It is also blamed for an outbreak of monkeypox.

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Ability to detect land mines and tuberculosis by scent

A Tanzanian social enterprise founded by two Belgians, APOPO, trains Gambian pouched rats to detect land mines and tuberculosis with their highly developed sense of smell. The trained pouched rats are called HeroRATS. The rats are cheaper to train than mine-detecting dogs; a rat requires $7,300 for nine months of training, whereas a dog costs about $25,000 for training.[citation needed]

Currently studies are being conducted in various countries[by whom?] about the best ways to train these rats, and determine their abilities and limits to detecting mines.[8]

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