Photo: Erik Mclean

Why are rats wearing backpacks?

The project from APOPO, a Belgian non-profit that trains animals to save lives, is fitting rats with small specialized backpacks to help emergency crews search for survivors in the event of building collapses.

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Reviled by most, the resourceful rat may finally have something to offer us humans. The project from APOPO, a Belgian non-profit that trains animals to save lives, is fitting rats with small specialized backpacks to help emergency crews search for survivors in the event of building collapses. According to researchers on the project, their small size and excellent smell of the rodents, plus their adventures spirit makes them the perfect animal to help in such disasters. “Rats are typically quite curious and like to explore – and that is key for search and rescue,” says Donna Kean, a behavioral research scientist and leader of the project, per CNN. The rats aren’t ready to be deployed into collapsed buildings just yet, but they’re currently being trained in a simulator disaster area, during 15-minute sessions five days a week, going through the motions of a real rescue.

The project was launched by Belgian non-profit APOPO. APOPO

The rats are being fitted with tiny, high-tech backpacks rodents with tiny, high-tech backpacks to help first responders search for survivors. APOPO In the simulated exercises, the rats have to find the person “trapped” in the rubble, then pull a switch on their tiny vest that triggers a beeper, and then return to their handles where they’re given a treat. The rodent’s backpacks are fashioned with a video camera, but scientists are hoping to make it “as small as possible” without losing any functionality, and also include a two-way microphone and location transmitter to help locate survivors and communicate with people.

The rodents train in simulated situations. APOPO

Their training involves an obstacle course made to resemble the rubble of a disaster site. APOPO The backpacks are being developed by APOPO in a collaboration with Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, with the backpack technology being developed by electrical engineer Sander Verdiesen. The project began in 2021, first proposed after volunteer search and rescue organization GEA approached APOPO to work together in 2017. According to Kean, it will take at least nine to 12 months to train each rat. The the next step is to mimic more “real world scenarios,” with an immediate next stage involving taking the rats to areas that mimic “multiple floors of a collapsed building.” The project will move to Turkey next, where GEA is based, and will train more in the simulator before trying real-life situations.

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Princess Diana used her clutch bag to cover her cleavage from prying photographers, whilst the Queen moves her handbag from one arm to the other to signal to her staff when she’s bored of chatting to someone. The late Princess' affinity for Dior's iconic Lady Dior purse even led to the French maison to rename the bag in her honour. Another reason Royals carry clutch bags is to have an excuse to avoid shaking hands if they find a situation a bit comfortable. And if you’ve ever wondered what exactly they do carry in there (and it’s never cash FYI), we’ve been given a glimpse into the Duchess of Cambridge’s handbag, which incidentally she often carries in her left hand for this reason. According to royal author Marcia Moody’s 2013 book Kate: A Biography, Catherine always carries three four items with her.

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