A groundbreaking study has demonstrated that African giant pouched rats can be trained to detect illegally trafficked wildlife and plant species, offering a novel approach to fighting the illegal wildlife trade. These rats, known for their exceptional sense of smell, were trained to identify the scents of endangered species such as pangolins, elephants, rhinos, and African blackwood, which are frequently targeted by wildlife traffickers.

The research, published in Frontiers in Conservation Science, represents a significant advance in the use of animals for conservation efforts. African giant pouched rats, which have previously been trained for detecting landmines and tuberculosis, have now shown the ability to recognize and remember the distinctive smells of illicit wildlife products over extended periods. This breakthrough could provide a cost-effective and efficient solution to the complex problem of wildlife trafficking, especially in areas like ports and airports, where illegal goods are often smuggled.

The study revealed that these rats could successfully detect a variety of trafficked wildlife items, including pangolin scales, elephant ivory, rhino horn, and the rare African blackwood. These species are all highly endangered, making their protection a global priority. The rats’ ability to identify these materials even when they have been concealed among other substances highlights their potential role in intercepting illegal wildlife trade.

The rats underwent a comprehensive training program at APOPO, a Tanzania-based nonprofit organization known for its work with detection animals. In the first stage of training, the rats were introduced to the scents of the target wildlife items, learning to signal their detection by holding their noses in a designated hole for several seconds. Next, the rats were exposed to a variety of non-target scents, such as electric cables, coffee beans, and washing powder—substances often used by traffickers to mask the smell of illegal wildlife products. The rats were trained to ignore these non-target odors and focus solely on the specific wildlife-related scents.

After several months of training, the rats demonstrated remarkable retention abilities. When reintroduced to the target smells after five to eight months of no exposure, the rats were able to recall and correctly identify the illicit items, with perfect detection rates. This ability to remember scents over long periods makes rats an effective tool for detecting smuggled goods, even after a delay in training.

By the end of the study, the trained rats were able to identify the four target wildlife products among 146 non-target substances, proving their reliability as scent detectors. The success of this research has opened the door to using African giant pouched rats in real-world scenarios, such as screening cargo in shipping containers or inspecting tight, hard-to-reach spaces in ports and airports.

Rats offer a cost-efficient alternative to traditional wildlife trafficking detection methods, which are often expensive and time-consuming. Due to their ability to access small spaces in packed cargo or elevated areas like the ventilation systems of sealed containers, rats could become a valuable tool in inspecting goods during transit. The rats’ agility and flexibility could make them particularly useful for screening cargo in locations where other detection methods may be less effective.

The next step for researchers is to develop methods for deploying the rats in real-world environments, such as busy ports where wildlife smuggling is common. Plans are already underway to design custom vests for the rats, allowing them to alert handlers when they detect the target species. These vests will feature a small ball that the rats can pull with their front paws, triggering a beeping sound to indicate a successful detection.

While the study has shown promising results in controlled environments, researchers acknowledge the challenges of implementing this method in the field. Wildlife trafficking often involves complex criminal networks that engage in a range of illegal activities, including drug and arms trafficking. Deploying rats to combat these networks would require overcoming logistical challenges, but the potential impact on wildlife conservation could be substantial.

Wildlife trafficking is often linked with other forms of illegal trade, including human trafficking, and using rats to detect trafficked wildlife could help dismantle these criminal networks. The success of this study suggests that African giant pouched rats could become a powerful tool in the global fight against wildlife trafficking, offering a cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly solution to protecting endangered species.