Scientists in Glasgow, Scotland, are training rats to help with search and rescue work in earthquake debris sites.
The team trained the rats by sending them into mock sites, wearing homemade prototype backpacks containing a microphone. They respond to a beep, which calls them back to the base. The next step would be to create bags containing microphones, video recorders, and location trackers that allow rescue teams to communicate with survivors during actual earthquakes. The rodents will get the chance to work in a field in Turkey, where tremors are typical.
The rats are easy-to-train, agile, and good at surviving in different environments, making them perfect for retrieval operations. They can also get into small spaces to get to victims buried in the rubble.
Are you hopeful that the rodents can save lives with the study’s promising results? Please comment your thoughts below.