That big a rat wouldn't set off a mine? I don't believe.
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  That big a rat wouldn't set off a mine? I don't believe.
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Author Topic: That big a rat wouldn't set off a mine? I don't believe.  (Read 502 times)
v0031
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« on: May 29, 2016, 10:08:57 PM »

There are about 80,000,000 mines under the ground in more than 60 countries. It is difficult and dangerous to clear these mines. About 50 people including many children were killed or hurt each day. In 2003, APOPO, a Dutch research company that trains the animals, came up with the idea of using rats to search for the mines.
     The animal trainers found that a kind of rats from Africa were clever and had a sharp sense of smell. The rats were about 75 cm long and weighted about 1.35 kg, light enough to run across a minefield without setting off the mines.
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True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)
Ernest
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« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2016, 12:55:33 AM »

1.35 kg isn't that heavy and the 75 cm length probably includes the tail,  From a military perspective, one doesn't want small animals setting off mines as it's a waste of effort.
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v0031
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« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2016, 01:05:12 AM »

Thanks, but 75cm, that's longer than most of the cats. Would that be 7.5 cm?
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cxs018
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« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2016, 05:41:15 AM »

Thanks, but 75cm, that's longer than most of the cats. Would that be 7.5 cm?

I'd imagine. Either that or it includes the tail as TF said.
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True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)
Ernest
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« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2016, 12:30:27 PM »

Thanks, but 75cm, that's longer than most of the cats. Would that be 7.5 cm?

I'd imagine. Either that or it includes the tail as TF said.

7.5 cm is only 3 in, and thus smaller than most rats. A quick google found that the species APOPO uses is the African giant pouched rat, of which half its length is the tail.
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snowguy716
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« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2016, 03:09:43 PM »

The dimensions cited are correct.  They refer to the Gambian pouched rat, which can grow to nearly a meter long due to its very long tail, which makes up about half its length.
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angus
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« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2016, 06:46:12 PM »

75 cm long and weighted about 1.35 kg

wow!  I don't know the minimum force required to activate a landmine, but that is one scary rat. 

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Kingpoleon
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« Reply #7 on: May 31, 2016, 06:36:48 PM »

That's about thirty inches and three pounds. To be exact, 29.5276 inches and 2.976241 pounds.
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