Mammals
African Giant Pouched Rat
Cricetomys gambianus · also called Gambian pouched rat, Gambian giant pouched rat
Walking slowly across a field on a light leash, a trained African giant pouched rat pauses and scratches the ground, signalling a buried landmine that its nose has found.
Overview
The African giant pouched rat, Cricetomys gambianus, is a Least Concern rodent found across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Its large size, cheek pouches, and remarkable sense of smell have made it one of the few rodents trained to help people, detecting landmines and tuberculosis.
A nose that saves lives
The pouched rat’s powerful sense of smell, combined with its light weight and trainability, has turned it into a working animal on some of the world’s most dangerous ground.
Status
Least Concern, widespread across much of sub-Saharan Africa.
African Giant Pouched Rat: common questions
How big is the African giant pouched rat?
It is one of the largest rats in the world, growing to well over half a metre including its tail and weighing over a kilogram.
What do trained pouched rats detect?
Trained animals, known as HeroRATs, have been used to detect landmines and to screen samples for signs of tuberculosis.
Why is it called a pouched rat?
It has large, expandable cheek pouches in which it carries food back to its burrow.
Where is the African giant pouched rat found?
It is found across much of sub-Saharan Africa, and a population introduced to the Florida Keys has also been recorded.