Government

Yes, Rats Are Being Trained to Sniff Out Land Mines

All they’re asking for in return are some treats and a bit of love.
An African giant pouched rat runs from one trainer to another as it searches the ground for land mines during training.George Nickels/Apopo

Rats are not beloved. They frighten subway passengers, infest millions of homes across the U.S., and their beady eyes are said to be those of the devil. The ones in New York City are so threatening that the government recently declared war on them.

But in Cambodia, the sight of giant rats scampering along grassy fields is a welcomed one. That’s because they’re there to sniff out land mines.