African giant pouched rats, known for their extraordinary sense of smell, are being trained to detect illegally trafficked wildlife. Scientists believe these rodents could be a game-changer in combating the global illegal wildlife trade, which is worth up to $23 billion annually.

With the ability to identify hidden animal products such as pangolin scales, elephant ivory, and rhino horns, these rats could provide an affordable and effective screening tool in ports and airports, where smugglers operate under the radar. CNN reports that APOPO, a nonprofit based in Tanzania, is leading this groundbreaking effort.

Photo: Pexels

Giant rats are being trained to sniff out wildlife contraband in cargo shipments.

How Rats Are Trained to Detect Wildlife Contraband

Training starts early, with select rats undergoing extensive scent recognition exercises. Researchers at APOPO use positive reinforcement, rewarding the rats with flavored pellets when they successfully identify wildlife products.

These rats are taught to differentiate target scents from common masking agents like coffee and detergent, which traffickers use to evade detection. According to EarthSky, the rodents demonstrate remarkable retention, identifying target odors even months after initial exposure.

Unlike detection dogs, which typically work with a single handler, rats can work interchangeably with multiple trainers, making them more adaptable in different settings. They are also significantly cheaper to train and maintain, a critical advantage for enforcement agencies in regions where resources are limited.

”Our study shows that we can train African giant pouched rats to detect illegally trafficked wildlife, even when it has been concealed among other substances,” said Dr. Isabelle Szott, a researcher at the Okeanos Foundation, in Frontiers.

Photo: Pexels

These rats can detect ivory, rhino horn, pangolin scales, and African blackwood.

Deploying Rats in the Field

To transition from the lab to real-world operations, scientists are outfitting the rats with specially designed vests. These vests include a beeping mechanism activated when a rat identifies a wildlife product.

“The vests are a great example of developing hardware that could be useful across different settings, including at a shipping port to detect smuggled wildlife,” Dr. Kate Webb of Duke University told The Wildlife Society.

A proof-of-concept trial at the Dar es Salaam seaport in Tanzania showed promising results. The rats successfully detected over 83% of planted targets, even when concealed with scent-masking materials, CNN reports. These findings suggest that the rodents could be integrated into customs screenings at key transit points where traffickers move illegal goods.

Photo: Pexels

Unlike dogs, rats can work with multiple handlers, making them highly adaptable.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite their potential, implementing giant rats in large-scale operations comes with challenges. Current studies have been conducted in controlled environments, and researchers acknowledge that real-world conditions could present unforeseen difficulties.

Dr. José Eduardo Reynoso Cruz, a lead scientist at APOPO, emphasized the need for ongoing training to improve accuracy and reduce false positives, Mongabay reports.

Moreover, public perception remains an obstacle. Many people still associate rats with disease and urban infestations, making it harder to secure widespread support for their use. However, the success of these rodents in detecting landmines and tuberculosis in prior projects demonstrates their potential as valuable working animals.

“These are special rats. It’s amazing what they’re able to do,” Mikala Lauridsen, a program director at TRAFFIC, told Mongabay.

Rats as a Low-Cost, High-Impact Solution

Experts believe that deploying giant rats at ports, airports, and border crossings could help disrupt trafficking networks. Improved detection raises the risks for criminals, driving up the cost of illegal operations and potentially reducing demand.

Crawford Allan, vice president of nature crimes and policy advocacy at WWF US, stressed that organized crime takes advantage of weak detection methods, making solutions like these crucial in the fight against wildlife exploitation, CNN reports.

As research continues, scientists remain optimistic that these intelligent rodents will become an integral part of conservation enforcement.

“So far, whatever we’ve thrown at the rats, they’ve been doing it,” said Szott.

If their success in trials translates to real-world results, these unlikely heroes may soon be at the frontlines of the battle against illegal wildlife trafficking.