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Saturday June 15, 2024

Rodent trainer Neema Justin, 33, shares an intimate moment an African giant pouched rat, after an illegal wildlife products detection exercise at the Apopo training facility in Morogoro, Tanzania. Apopo's staff often form close bonds with their rats.

Rodent trainer Neema Justin, 33, shares a moment with an African giant pouched rat after an exercise in detecting illegal wildlife products at the Apopo training facility in Morogoro, Tanzania. Apopo's staff often form close bonds with their rats. Tommy Trenchard/for NPR hide caption

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Tommy Trenchard/for NPR

Goats and Soda

Dear rat, did you ever know that you're my hero?

June 15, 2024 • African giant pouched rats use their acute sense of smell to sniff out landmines and detect TB in sputum samples. Now, they are set to become search-and-rescue specialists too.