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 (AntiPersonnel Landmines Removal Product Development), a Belgian research company – had the idea to use them in the 1990s, christening the rodents ‘HeroRATs’.
APOPO took the concept of sniffer dogs, miniaturised it and now trains and deploys the HeroRATs throughout the African continent. Today, HeroRATs are used not only to find unexploded landmines but to detect tuberculosis (TB) in humans and even to find smuggled wildlife, such as the pangolin. And in these strange times, pouched rats are being considered for an additional task: detecting COVID-19.
DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS
ãã®èšäºã¯ The Field ã® February 2021 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã8,500 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ The Field ã® February 2021 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã8,500 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
A sweet-pea Summer
Sweet peas are enjoying an Instagram momentâ but to appreciate fully these charming flowers one must hasten back to the real world, says Ursula Buchan
Top sporting stays
Effortlessly smart and with superb shooting and fishing on the doorstep, these British hotels are the perfect base for fieldsports enthusiasts, says Madeleine Silver
Tradition with a twist
Showcasing the finest British produce from honey, beer and butter to game and venison, this monthâs trio of dishes truly encapsulate the taste of Britain, says Philippa Davis
Daylesford
Organic farming at its finest
The best of British breeds
When it comes to developing and establishing the worldâs most popular gundog breeds, Britain has a lot to be proud of, says David Tomlinson
Ping and you're winning
An email alert for burgonets coming to auction draws Roger Fieldâs attention to a promising lot. Meanwhile, a sale from novelist John le Carréâs estate temporarily raises an eyebrow
Saving the queen of flowers
Trailing clouds of glory into your garden, historic roses are as vital a part of British heritage as a Gainsborough painting and must be preserved
Long live the sporting pub
Not just a place to drink, the right kind of country pub is a beacon for fieldsports enthusiasts. The Star Inn in Harome is one such spot
The sole survivors
An increasingly casual attitude to what we wear has given rise to the so-called dress sneakerâ but proper gentlemen's shoes will never go out of fashion
A win in the willow
The cricket bat industry is steeped in tradition yet must move with the times to meet demand, opening a lucrative door for landowners in the process