The nonprofit APOPO has worked in Morogoro, Tanzania, for more than two decades to train African giant pouched rats for ...

Eight giant African pouched rats were able to detect four wildlife samples from 146 non-target items during this four-year study.

Eight giant African pouched rats were able to detect four wildlife samples from 146 non-target items during this four-year study.

They're known as 'hero rats' and for good reason. In Tanzania, African giant pouched rats are being trained to sniff out ...

An African giant pouched rat enters a simulated disaster zone during a search-and-rescue training exercise at the Apopo training facility in Morogoro, Tanzania.

Giant African pouched rats have been trained to sniff out explosives and tuberculosis. Now, the rats show promise in another area: combatting the illegal wildlife trade.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.