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Giant Rats in Africa Trained to Detect Ivory and Wildlife Products at Ports

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In a unique approach, African ports are employing trained giant pouched rats to sniff out illegal wildlife goods such as ivory and pangolin scales. This effort, led by APOPO, aims to aid customs officials in identifying smuggled items from endangered species. Agile and cost-effective, these rats are trained to detect specific scents in mock warehouses and are now depl…In a unique approach, African ports are employing trained giant pouched rats to sniff out illegal wildlife goods such as ivory and pangolin scales. This effort, led by APOPO, aims to aid customs officials in identifying smuggled items from endangered species. Agile and cost-effective, these rats are trained to detect specific scents in mock warehouses and are now depl…