The idea of using rats for the detection of landmines came up through a search for a cheap and efficient mine detector tool, which would be able to detect both metal and plastic landmines.

Despite the huge research efforts in mine detection during the last decade, the only alternative technology that made its way to the field was the use of mine detection dogs.

Rats however, show some major potential to be good mine detectors:

• Rats have a highly developed sense of smell;
• Rats are easy to tame and train;
• Rats are small, cheap and easy to maintain and transport;
• Rats are widespread and easily adapt to all environments;
• Once taught, the animals love performing repetitive tasks;
• Rats are more easily transferred between trainers compared to dogs;

The concept however, would require a different perspective from humankind, for which rats have traditionally been a source of repulsion and disease. From the APOPO experience however, they have proven to be friendly and clever creatures, able to perform relatively difficult tasks.