you need to remember one one just showed you know for the mid one and only boom box . this is a story of one of africa's giants. know his teeth on that shot. on his neck isn't that a long. list giant is rather modest and keeps a low profile that's not him either. people are often scared of this particular giant but he is nowhere near as dangerous as that one. it's

a friendly giant every day with the possible exception of weekends he saves human lives day is. his name is isaac a giant pouched rat. and i like his brothers and sisters he was born with a passion for travel. isaac's birthplace was a special training center in tanzania. it's called which stands for development of landmine detection equipment that's what

isaac is these are mine sniffing rat. rats are everywhere they are sociable to all circumstances and they've lifted with humanity since ever. they actually traditionally. garbage and they've been doing that. for always. mind sniffing rats are put to work in former hot spots where learned mines are among the most deadly remnants of conflict they're often found years after war has ended and serious injury isn't the only problem. imagine how it must feel to live with the knowledge that there's a landmine lurking somewhere near your home. when i was a close up field and to help make the problem of landmines a thing of the past. but it will be a full nine months before he becomes a real pro for now he simply spends his time with his family.

it's no coincidence that giant rats were chosen to sniff mines in the wild their extraordinary sense of smell that was them to search for food buried deep underground it worked with land mines to the key is to train the abouts to associate the discovery of t.n.t. with food and that's not difficult because everyone knows how intelligent rats. the really hard part is making sure that the rat doesn't make any mistakes that could be fatal and not just for the rat. these old regular rats there it's clear from the way they eat these giant rats have special pouches in their cheeks to steal food just like hamsters so this particular animal is on the cusp between being a rat. perhaps that's why they're just a little bit cuter. six.

i guess i should add to another really great benefit of our species of rats is that there are really curious which lab rats are curious as well but. there are various social in terms of their really willing to work with people. sometimes will develop that relationship with you but i don't think they develop it quite as readily. meanwhile isaac has grown he's now four weeks old i'm training can begin like all children isaac schooling starts with the kindergarten. although it is a camera he helps a little ranch to feel comfortable around people. to

see to defeat him to. be. the norm we teach the. truth. interacting with the care is a vital part of the learning process it's important but isaac's soche. zation mind sniffing rats mustn't run away from bites people. when he grows up our eyes are cool way around a kilo and his body will reach thirty to forty centimeters in length just about as long as his tail. because they're so big grilled. is our favorite local street food.

that has started school he spends his early weeks learning the basic rule that he means food. sound is used to reinforce the learned response as i can count as an empty container there's no sound. this one does contain t.n.t. and the click tells him that he can claim a treat. well in general but how. they really let her do her thing they don't get involved or train influenced her in any way but the rats eating the rats has a different behavior just before they find. they have certain behaviors some of them like to clean themselves elected groom themselves they're very clean. they don't like to get wet or maybe there's. some of

them will walk around in circles some even stand up in the air. so the handler knows that she's found some think it just has. indicated where. a rats remarkable sense of smell can detect the tiniest traces of t.n.t. . they can sense the explosive even when it's fifteen to twenty centimeters on the ground their noses over not so secret weapon imagine if humans had similar abilities ok if you were in a pitch black room and somebody entered the house from. i would say i think one kilometer away and it's pitch black and you can't hear anything you might be able to detect something changed but that's also

very hard for me to say because i really as a scientist i need evidence to support such a claim and i don't have. isaac and his sister at the gym they can give their paws a good workout sharpen their teeth. but enjoy a sense of freedom. looks as though isaac's trying to set out on his first trip. a nice try. a brief chase. a few a breath so fresh. and he soon back in the fold.

they know what they are doing they know what to be expect from them they know. if to your work you can do very we want. to three war. profit off. very very very bored he learned most you have to do board and don't they don't understand so i remember very well the words. and that's what we are doing. for about a. week these students are only fed the food that they are given a streaks during training mostly a staple diet. and not. just.

during the weekends a little given a veritable feat. of peanuts and dried fish this. is great for their bones these. you. know feast. he. says here. in the wild rats live in small underground colonies. quite independent within the colony. live in their own. food with neighbors.

females can choose their own mating partners but the colonies are not. they are ruled by a group that works a little like a parliament with both male and female members. it's a big day for isaac. is about to move into high school. just like every graduate to be he gets his own personal transport. now. his field training.

they sleep by day but have active night lives. try to adjust to the rats biorhythms they set out at five thirty in the morning a field training session six. minutes for moments like this that isaac has been trained. by the sound of the engine.

join me every thursday on the elec simon short and i'll be speaking to guest of the world of politics sports business i'm showbusiness i'll see that. my mother was a crack seems to do crack when i was a locate my dad he was like oh must be so you know a guy like what i needed when i was a baby boy i had a bad childhood. there's always been single mothers and african-american community service and slavery. i think it's more of these teenagers having kids and you can expect a fourteen or fifteen year old first daughter now order for him maybe a far there and he's a check out. actually lost their place in october

my car end up breaking down and i was unable to get to work on time so they let me go in with my paycheck that i bring home i have barely enough to pay my car insurance. the gas in my car. and. michael grew should use good meat to train to drink.

again. and now you learn to get beyond the arms. with three hundred or. so it's not the right man who is telling them. the black you have to do this in this in this manner now we have the older teenagers there is material enough for the old to be used to train the young. isaac remained calm while using for his class to start. the trust between trainer and rat runs deep. he lets isaac out of the cage. without even bothering to follow.

they have to concentrate them to be a viewer of their day they have to. to make you need to predation or for the root is doing. with did you come to d.c. when you were telling your brother. isaac is now demonstrating model behavior for my not wanting rat. he sniffs diligently at the end. is in no hurry. this is the result of several months of training.

it looks as though isaac might offend some t.n.t. . he tries to rid his nose of all extraneous scent. me thinks he senses something but may just to reset his smelling operators to be sure. this is the spot. no all the trainer can send his signal. it's like watching two old friends getting together. at first but for him or for me. i mean she was not running she was walking.

she sniffed every room. she. liked records. to steve to t.n.t. because of did you will. it's asserted she wasn't. visions of t.n.t. . isaac seems to have passed with flying colors. and now it's time to evaluate his loyalties. no one wants to chase a runaway rhett across a life minefield that would be deadly that's why it's important that the raps follow their handlers voluntarily without a leash. isaac is displaying

textbook behavior as this training is over. now it's time for the real world to begin. traveling to see rip in cambodia. this is home to one of the ancient aka textural wonders of the world. and court of fact. millions of tourists travel here to take their best selfies

tourism is one of cambodia's main sources of revenue. but there are still landmines left over from the civil war and they are seriously hampering any further growth and tourism to say nothing of the danger to life. when it comes to square miles of minefields cambodia is second only to afghanistan . the number of injuries caused by landmines is the highest in the world now though the situation is changing for the better in the popular tourist resorts mines can only be seen in museums but there are still many dangerous areas in the country.

isaac is here to help with mine clearance. new instructor applies sunscreen to his skin. because giant rats and nocturnal creatures their skin isn't accustomed to high levels of u.v. if they were left unprotected and run the risk of developing skin cancer. ears and tails the most delicate spots. we didn't see them doing this in africa because the training center was high in the mountains in the town of ma to go to. at this time of year it's much cooler there than here in cambodia. if we take a closer look at the probables it's raining but isaac still has some screen applied . for sun might come out once the team stops working.

this is no drill. team domes protective vests and helmets. no one knows exactly how much protection they get would offer but fine until they're off to work. it's not a hundred. of you from the top in the next question is not bad but these are. international. if something exploded. in the new being a scottish and brown something explored at least to a point that they don't want an office rather than having nothing. just as we make our way to the minefield it rains again.

if we do rains and then. march. we think that there is no. i mean nice is going on so it's not easy for that. that's why when drains a lot then we don't want. it doesn't look as though we'll get to see ice a connection or range getting heavier. c . c feet are. pretty good. very good. there. are.

one more try. it's not clear if the rain will get in the way again or not. the mind to take is out in the field after all. isaac is investigating the ground. nothing so far. suddenly he starts to wash his face. this means he's identified a suspicious. the disposal experts approaches.

he has spent something. he seems to be really quite relaxed so perhaps it's not a mind off to rule. it is the mind that's not mine. i thought.

it. will find. highlighted in yellow. the disposal team has a light breakfast after work everyone gets a banana. and they all seem to enjoy it. isaac has come a long way from this moment of triumph now it's time for a rest. real heroes glory true heroes need to rest to build up their strength for their future endeavors.

another round of cambodia's mine clearance campaign has come to an end the field engineers have a chance to relax. take a leaf out of the judge's book then i'd life is almost as exciting as the rats. in. this story of a land mine and. that's all there is to it. eh.

young elephants have come to us after. myspace leave brutal pledging incidents because sadly the baby elephants often do see their mothers not only be killed but also be caught up unfortunate. and i do believe the elephant smile i see it's a nice little lands they are. trying to express and change says. mean . you know world of big partisan life and conspiracy it's time to wake up to

dig deeper to hit the stories that mainstream media refuses to tell more than ever we need to be smarter we need to stop slamming the door on the back and shouting past each other it's time for critical thinking it's time to fight for the middle for the truth the time is now for watching closely watching the hawks.

pass four hundred deal is a done deal and we will not step. back and watching. after it again urges ankara to cancel its purchase of a russian missile defense system as nato outlined new measures to counter moscow. and u.n. experts atrocities are on the rise in the west african country of mali with ethnic communities being massacred despite a french and u.s. troop presence. and rights activists dogs debate by slamming western women who wear the hijab when visiting iran for supporting a discriminatory law guest.