These Little Heroes Saved Countless Lives – 10 Pictures

This example from Africa has shown that every animal has a place and purpose in this world. When rats come up in conversation, first thing that most of the people would say probably would be disgusted or something like that, but, as always, there is more to it. These African pouched rats are trained, using positive reinforcement behavior (meaning in docile and non invasive way) to detect land mines and save human lives by doing so.

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After rigorous training, they're awarded the “title” of Hero Rats and sent to the fields to sniff out mines. These little rats are simply fantastic in what they do. Their small size allows them not to trigger the explosives but to remain visible while sniffing out the mines. No rat was ever harmed while working in minefields.

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They're also super effective! The terrain that would require 5 days of work by humans with metal detectors is a quick work for these brave and adorable rats. Work that takes only about 20 minutes to finish.

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After working for few years, they're being taken off duty and taken care of. They can run around, eat bananas and spend time with their mates and handlers as much as they want. And they truly deserve that.

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