Gambian Giant Pouched Rats
Wednesday September 17, 2003
Gambian giant pouched rats gained notoriety when they were implicated in the outbreak of monkeypox in the US earlier this year. Their importation to the US is now banned as a result, but these giant (as in 30 inches long!) rats are very intelligent creatures. They are now being trained in land mine detection in Africa in an ongoing project. It turns out they are pretty ideal for this line of work as they are intelligent enough to be trained to do the detection work, but are small enough that they do not detonate the mines. They can also be good pets.
Comments
I found your site surfing. Actually I think I want to look for another pouched rat. Yes they make wonerful pets if gotten young enough. Mine I had for the most wonderful 5 1/2 yrs of my life. Her passing this past August has been a devasting blow to me and I’m finding it very diffucult at times dealing with her loss. They are extremely intelligent and very easily trained. Mine learned to use a potty bowl and learned how to get upto her cage which was on top of a table and use her potty and then come back down again. She learned how to open a plastic jug to get her seeds and nuts out of it. Her diet consisted of fruits, v and nuts. I am thrilled to learn that the ban has been lifted in some states but as yet I don’t know which states have lifted it. I am unsure if I want to go through a loss like this but then I realize that I really need the companionship that I had with Kendall. I used to breed and show rats but after being a part of Kendalls life the standard rats are no longer an option for me. I would appreciate contact with people that have an interest in these amazing creatures.