Traveler Cuddles Up With Hero Rat Who Detects Landmines at Cambodian Exhibit
You may already know that animal heroes come in all shapes and sizes, but you may not have heard about Cambodia's smallest war heroes--the rats. Yes, seriously--these pocket-sized critters are being trained in Cambodia and other areas of the world to keep citizens safe from dangers past and present.
Many folks like world traveler Anna learn about hero rats through travel experiences and animal meet-and-greets, but she wanted to share her own experience for other nontravelers to witness, too. So on March 22, she handed someone the camera while she met and even held one very special African Giant Rat. The rat's name is Valerie, and she is just as polite as Anna when saying hello. It seemed like a great experience all around!
OMG! Even with the name 'African Giant Rat,' I was absolutely floored to see a rodent that big. Valerie is the size of a small dog! She was the perfect size to fit in Anna's arms while the two said hello and it turns out she's also the perfect size for detecting landmines.
Related: Heroic, Landmine-Sniffing Rat Magawa Dies
That's right! Valerie is one of hundreds of rats in Cambodia who are trained to detect TNT and undetonated landmines. This may seem like a random task, but it's an essential skill that's saved countless lives since the end of the Cambodian civil war in the 80s. It's estimated that about 4 million undetonated land mines were recovered in the country between 1992 and 2018, and the goal is for the country to be mine-free by 2025. With trained rats like Valerie, this could really be possible!
Despite this critter's literal lifesaving skill, some people still couldn't bring themselves to pet or hold a giant rat. As a viewer named Scarlett explained, "rats are actually cute. I just can't stand their tails." That's fair! Rat's tails are oddly long, fleshy, and hairless compared to the rest of their body. Even so, Valerie's handler was so gentle with her tail!
Tourist Animal Experiences Are Questionable
Other viewers were quick to point out just how relaxed and happy this African animal seemed to be. She stepped into Anna's arms of her own volition, and she was curious to get a closer look (and sniff) at her brand-new friend. When she looked back at her handler, he knew to reach out and let her step back, too!
All of these are great signs that an animal is well taken care of. Clearly, the organization APOPO knows what they're doing! This global non-profit is dedicated to raising scent-detection dogs and rats in many areas around the world, including Cambodia, and they put their animals' care at the top of their priorities list. If you ever find yourself visiting Siem Reap, you can visit these animal heroes for yourself!
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