Heroic rodents: These giant hamsters are saving lives in Angola

Baraka (carried by its human partner Raul Ilidio) is one of the rats that sniff out landmines for Belgian organisation Apopo. — Photos: KRISTIN PALITZA/dpa

EAGERLY sniffing, Baraka dashes across a stubble field. He can’t see very well, but his sense of smell is extremely well-developed.

Baraka, is a giant hamster rat with an important job to do: find buried explosives. During his work, the rodent is strapped into a small harness that is connected to a long line via a wire.