Rats used in Demining (Africa)

**Mr_Deputy** · 05-03-2010, 13:38

Interesting BBC article.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8549681.stm

How useful are rats for demining?

**amazing__lobster** · 05-03-2010, 14:09

I think it's really good idea actually. Rats are cheap, and reasonably intelligent, so I think they'll be pretty good for this task.

**Magdovus** · 05-03-2010, 14:15

Couldn't we just train up chavs to do the same job? We could just march them in line abreast through a minefield. Cheap, quick and easy.

**blonde_guy** · 05-03-2010, 14:18

Originally Posted by Magdovus

Couldn't we just train up chavs to do the same job? We could just march them in line abreast through a minefield. Cheap, quick and easy.

Conscript them. 1st Battalion (Croydon Pals) The Penal Mine Clearance Regiment reporting for duty.

**staaken** · 05-03-2010, 16:06

I work in Sudan for an NGO on Mine Clearance in the Nuba Mountains. Our sister programme in Angola is looking into this right now, and will be trialling them soon. Another tool in the box, but like everything they have their limitations; they certainly are effective, though. Been used for quite a while in Mozambique, amongst other places.

Edited for clarity or something

**cheggarsRE** · 05-03-2010, 18:52

surely the rat doesn't have the desired rat to set off a pressure plate initiated mine??

**amazing__lobster** · 05-03-2010, 18:54

Originally Posted by cheggarsRE

surely the rat doesn't have the desired rat to set off a pressure plate initiated mine??

I think the rats just mark where the mines are, by digging.

Although the main drawback I can see, is that rats are nocturnal, so does that mean all of this work is done at night?

**staaken** · 05-03-2010, 18:56

This why we are using 50kg Capybaras....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/pict...s.html?image=3

**RiflemanTom** · 05-03-2010, 18:56

Originally Posted by amazing__lobster

Originally Posted by cheggarsRE

surely the rat doesn't have the desired rat to set off a pressure plate initiated mine??

I think the rats just mark where the mines are, by digging.

Although the main drawback I can see, is that rats are nocturnal, so does that mean all of this work is done at night?

You'd have the same problem with the chavs.

**RiflemanTom** · 05-03-2010, 18:58

Originally Posted by blonde_guy

Originally Posted by Magdovus

Couldn't we just train up chavs to do the same job? We could just march them in line abreast through a minefield. Cheap, quick and easy.

Conscript them. 1st Battalion (Croydon Pals) The Penal Mine Clearance Regiment reporting for duty.

They could have Burbury as the official tartan!!

**staaken** · 05-03-2010, 18:58

Originally Posted by amazing__lobster

Originally Posted by cheggarsRE

surely the rat doesn't have the desired rat to set off a pressure plate initiated mine??

I think the rats just mark where the mines are, by digging.

Although the main drawback I can see, is that rats are nocturnal, so does that mean all of this work is done at night?

Hmmm. Mine clearing at night. With rats. Right then, we'll give it a go...

Bats might be the answer here though

**staaken** · 05-03-2010, 19:12

My WAH radar is giving it large , but <koff> , they use their noses, not set the Cheeky Things off by jumping on them....

**Taffnp** · 05-03-2010, 19:32

had a quick look

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?im...26tbs%3Disch:1

**staaken** · 05-03-2010, 19:35

Goats (in the Libyan desert) try and eat the bu88ers, however.
Look closely at the 9 o'clock quadrant on the mine.

(For Spotters: Belgian PRB409 AP near Al Jahboub, 2007)

**Ancient_Mariner** · 05-03-2010, 19:39

This is absolutely appalling. Are there no depths to which man's inhumanity will sink? They may 'only' be rats but it doesn't mean that they can't feel pain, or fear.

Arrsers who give a sh1t about our fellow creatures may be aware that the US Army has a programme to try to train chimpanzees to clear minefields. When the poor bloody creatures are blown to buggery, they are simply abandoned to die from their wounds rather than being supplied with morphine, QuikClot and a Medivac ride to a vet. It could take days for them to die from their wounds.

There is some film on YouTube that was sneaked out of the research lab by a PETA activist. The chimps are being trained to march in line abreast across the minefield. Loud music is used to frighten them into stamping their feet hard to maximise the chance of detonating mines.

Note that this tragic film is not for the faint hearted. And they're not monkeys, they're APES. Just like us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ2nVL1-XFk