The Rats who work for us

--- Wait, these rats have jobs?

Art courtesy of @kangaroobun on Discord

At the beginning of the month, the team over at Rat Ranch received a message from the Creator Outreach Manager at APOPO. They asked whether we would be interested in collaborating for the organisation's upcoming "Ratathon" (Rat Marathon). This goes without saying, but we enthusiastically said yes!

APOPO (which stands for Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling) is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to using highly trained rodents to aid in the detection of landmines and tuberculosis (TB) from human sputum samples. Having previously "adopted" a HeroRAT by sponsoring one online, I was over the moon to hear from someone within the organisation. It has always been a goal of mine to visit the training facilities in Tanzania (not to mention that training these amazing creatures would be a dream come true).

Carolina peeking out of her hide

Most people know about the landmine work the rats do, but tuberculosis detection is an amazing feat. TB remains one of the world's leading killers of disease, despite it being easy to treat in the western world. As John Green puts it,

Tuberculosis is so often, and in so many ways, a disease of vicious cycles: It’s an illness of poverty that worsens poverty. It’s an illness that worsens other illnesses—from HIV to diabetes. It’s an illness of weak healthcare systems that weakens healthcare systems. It’s an illness of malnutrition that worsens malnutrition. And it’s an illness of the stigmatized that worsens stigmatization. In the face of all this, it’s easy to despair. TB doesn’t just flow through the meandering river of injustice; TB broadens and deepens that river.

-- John Green, Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection

The work these rats do provides much needed relief for early diagnostic work that can allow for the correct course of treatment to start before TB becomes treatment-resistant. Not to mention, these guys are absolutely adorable.

Senzo doing a big trot out on the training field

APOPO's HeroRATs are African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys ansorgei), a large rodent species found throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa. These remarkable animals are omnivorous and primarily nocturnal, using their distinctive cheek pouches to store and carry food - hence the name "pouched rat."

African giant pouched rats have long heads with large ears, buff-coloured fur, pale underparts, and long bare tails that turn white from the middle to the tip. Adults typically measure 25–30 cm in body length, with tails reaching 30–35 cm, and weigh between 1 and 1.3 kg (2.2–2.8 lbs). Despite their impressive size, these intelligent rodents are gentle, inquisitive, and highly motivated to learn, making them ideal candidates for the important work they do at APOPO.

These rats live amazing lives and are extremely driven by a desire to learn and explore the world around them. I like to think of them as the working ranch dogs of the rodent world. While our own rats prefer the cushy indoor life of paper bags and blankies, these guys would go stir-crazy without tasks to complete.

There is absolutely no way on earth my boys would manage to do the tasks these guys get up to...

One thing that was particularly nice to hear about was APOPO's commitment to maintaining high standards of welfare for its rats. It is incredibly clear that the trainers and staff care for these guys immensely, loving them as much as we love our own babies.

Here's what Katie over at APOPO has to say about the organisation's policy on ensuring that rats' welfare needs are met while they work:

The rats work as long as they are performing well, are happy, and pass their weekly health checks. If a rat decides to stop work, if its performance declines, or it is suffering from age-related health problems, it is retired to its home cage. It then continues to receive its usual healthy diet, is regularly taken out to play and exercise, and continues to receive its weekly health checks until it eventually passes away.

From the 1st to the 14th of June, Rat Ranch will be partnering with APOPO to raise money for the HeroRAT programme. If the community raises $1000 in funds, we will be able to name a HeroRAT over at APOPO!

Magawa wearing a medal

For more information, visit: https://apopo.org/herorats/why-herorats/.

To donate to the APOPO Ratathon Campaign, visit: https://tiltify.com/@rattewy/rat-ranch-x-apopo-summer-ratathon-2026

All photos of Pouched Rats Courtesy of APOPO's media library. A big thanks to Katie for helping us along the way!