It's not just a question of cost, but also of the animal's size. New experiments with hamster rats promise successful use of these rodents in international customs clearance. These animals consume less feed and, thanks to their size, can crawl between containers, barrels, and crevices.
According to the well-known magazine Welt der Wunder, over 300 kg of ivory and several kilos of rhino horn were seized during worldwide customs inspections in 2024. Pangolin scales were also among the popular smuggled goods. The scales are processed into biological medicines in various countries. Smuggling of wildlife products is illegal, and trade is restricted worldwide. It is unclear how much contraband slipped through the fingers of customs due to impassable loading. A new sleuth is now being called in to help... the rat.
The Gambian giant hamster rat has an excellent sense of smell. This rat species, which also bears a striking resemblance to hamsters, promises long-term cost-saving and more efficient use. Unlike dogs, rats can crawl into narrow crevices, eat less, and yet have a life expectancy of up to eight years. Training costs for the rodents are also much lower, and this species is not fixated on its owner like the well-known sniffer dogs. Isabelle Szott, an animal behaviorist, successfully trained the giant rat species in Tanzania to detect the scents of ivory, blackwood, pangolin, etc. They sniff out the smells of various contraband goods and, equipped with a special vest, can trigger an alarm with a movement. The giant hamster rat is not so demanding and will work for anyone who provides tasty food; this is the conclusion of research into the rodent, officially known as Cricetomys gambianus. This species also does not allow itself to be distracted by other strong smells, such as coffee.
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Sources:
Magazine Welt der Wunder im Artikel: "Hero Rats - Die Supernasen", Ausgabe 6/25, page 96-97.
Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland im Online-Article: "rnd-de/wissen/schmuggel-von-wildtierprodukten-ratten-koennten-zoll-bei-kontrollen-helfen-MYRQJR2MGZCN5LH6DAX552AOIQ.html", retrieved June/25.
Südwestrundfunk im Online-Article: "swr-de/swrkultur/wissen/riesenhamsterratten-illegaler-handel-schmuggel-verhindern-100.html", retrieved June/25.