Scientists Are Training Rats with Backpacks and Microphones to Rescue Earthquake Survivors
Scientists are working on innovative ways to have better earthquake rescue responses. One project involves rats, which might be hard to believe, but the first batch of rats are now training to become rescuers. Saving a person trapped under fallen debris takes time — it takes a long time to search for and rescue survivors. The researchers involved in the project believe that rats are the solution. They can easily fit under the debris without having to lift it. The project is led by Dr. Donna Kean from Glasgow, Scotland.
Rats are trained to carry tiny backpacks with microphones. Those items will be their rescue equipment to allow team members to talk with survivors. Trainees were sent inside mock debris along with their homemade prototype backpacks. There are currently seven rats who have been trained for already two weeks and provided the team with results. The trainees’ backpacks contained microphones, video gear, and location trackers.
Dr. Kean is working on the Hero Rats project with a nonprofit organization, APOPO. The research is based in Morogoro, Tanzania, East Africa, and has been there for over a year. The Hero Rats project participants will be assigned to an earthquake-prone location — Turkey. Dr. Donna Kean proudly shared the project on her Twitter account with a photo of one rat trainee. Many Twitter users sent out their queries via tweet replies, and Dr. Donna replied whether the tweet was a joke or a serious question. The scientist even promoted the organization’s other project that would help rats get adopted.
I train these clever creatures to save victims trapped in collapsed buildings after earthquakes. We kit them out with a rat backpack, and train them to trigger a switch when they find a victim & come back for a tasty treat 🐀#herosnotpests #science #weirdjobs #WomenInSTEM pic.twitter.com/728IQv70NX
— Dr Donna Kean (@donnaeilidhkean) May 26, 2022
Newsweek interviewed Dr. Kean, and she said, “Rats would be able to get into small spaces to get to victims buried in the rubble. We have not been in a real situation yet; we have a mock debris site. When we get the new backpacks, we will be able to hear from where we are based and where the rat is inside the debris. We have the potential to speak to victims through the rat.” The 33-year-old scientist was prepared to answer questions and explain a project that is unusually done in research.
In her interview, the Ph.D. holder from Stirling University also explained that rats shouldn’t always be seen as unhygienic creatures. She described them as sociable and capable of saving lives during a natural disaster. In addition, the project’s progress fascinated her, as rats can be fast learners and intelligent trainees.
