The rodents could play an important role in making
conflict-wracked Colombia safer. They are in the final stages of a training
program to find land mines that kill or injure hundreds of people each year in
Colombia.
The government project, which began in 2006, trains
specially bred rats to detect the metals used in land mines, thousands of which
have been laid during the country's decades-long conflict with left-wing
guerrillas.
Colombian scientists decided to use rats because, like the
dogs more traditionally used in land mine detection, they have a highly
developed sense of smell. But the rats are lightweight and unlikely to detonate
mines.
The rats are first taught to recognize voice commands and
the specific smells of metals used in land mines, and then to work in large,
outdoor areas.
It has taken government scientists five generations of rats
to be confident their training program is thorough enough to begin sending rats
out into the countryside.
In the laboratory, an element of instinct has been built
into the training, with baby rats scurrying after their mothers in plastic
mazes during practice sessions. The mothers show their young how finding the
dead end containing the same wires and metal pieces used in land mines can earn
you a treat.
"These rats will be a great help, and will provide
great input to those trying to carry out demining," said Erick Guzman, the
police official and former canine handler who now is responsible for much of
the rats' outdoor training.
"We are hoping that this generation will be ready at
the beginning of next year to be tested in a real environment," he added
as his favorite rat Sophie perched on his shoulder.
Experts say it is impossible to estimate the number of
undetonated mines which remain in Colombia, but their impact is horrifyingly
real.
In the first half of 2011, for example, mines killed 40
people and injured another 247, government statistics show. That compared with
535 dead and injured throughout 2010.
