Khaberni - Turkey has resorted to a new experiment in searching for those trapped under rubble, involving trained rats that carry cameras and GPS devices on their backs to enable rescue teams to reach the trapped.
The country endured a bitter experience when tens of thousands of people were trapped under collapsed buildings in the earthquake of February 6, 2023, which struck ten provinces, leaving some survivors alive and trapped for more than a week without anyone knowing.
The new project aims to overcome that challenge in a country located above ground faults, with frequent shakes and earthquakes, by utilizing the characteristics of a rat species imported from Africa.
The project managers named it "Hero Rats", where the rats undergo intensive training to recognize human scent, along with training on carrying a small bag containing a camera, a GPS system, and a two-way communication system.
Local reports stated that the participating rats were transported from Tanzania to Turkey, and are still undergoing training in realistic rubble areas in Antalya province, southern Turkey, and their practical use will be possible at the end of training and obtaining necessary approvals.
The project, overseen by several governmental and research entities, aims to provide rescue teams with precise and immediate information about the depth of the rubble and areas that are difficult to access, and the trapped survivors who are unable to call for help or scream.
The trained rats are capable of returning to the point from which they started after completing a search mission, which allows their use in other rescue missions during major disasters that strike several areas at the same time.
These African rats are slightly larger than regular rats, making it easier for them to carry a camera bag on their backs, and they live up to ten years instead of two, which is the average lifespan of regular mice.
In the 2023 earthquake, rescue teams used trained dogs and robots, and the rats, which can reach tight places, will serve as a new support element in any other earthquake that hits the country, causing destruction in homes.
About 55,000 people died in the 2023 earthquake, and more than one hundred thousand others were injured, many of whom were trapped under rubble for varying periods, exceeding a week for some before rescue teams reached them.
